Head coach Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of Udinse match.
Tomorrow we return to San Siro, in front of the Rossoneri fans. Could that be a factor?
“Yes, it could be a factor. We’ve had a week since the away match in Naples, where the team actually put in a good performance. The result influences the judgement. From now until the end, we need to maintain balance, we’re still a few points short of our objective, and we have to get there step by step. There are objective facts: in the last three matches we’ve lost twice away from home, and since Parma we’ve failed to score in three games. We need to approach this with calmness and clarity.”
How is the team mentally? Are you concerned about the strikers’ goal drought?
“From a psychological point of view… it’s normal that after losing in Naples, dropping to second place, and going nine points behind Inter, the first couple of days were the hardest. But then you have to refocus on the objective. Perhaps we weren’t good enough to stay closer to Inter, and that should push us to improve, without losing sight of our Champions League goal. There are seven matches left, and some teams are improving. Over the course of a season, there are moments when strikers score and others when they don’t. But I’m confident that between now and the end, they’ll score goals that will help us qualify for the Champions League.”
On the change of formation:
“If Saelemaekers is a forward or a full-back? If it were just about formations, it would be too easy. You need balance. In Naples, you go there aiming for a result, but you can also lose. One match shouldn’t destabilise a whole year’s work. At the end of the season, we’ll sit down and evaluate everything: physical aspects, management, what was done well and what wasn’t. But we must do it with balance and clarity, without being swept away by events, because if we are, it leads to disaster.”
Back to the strikers:
“Pulisic and Leão have unfortunately had several injuries, which have prevented them from finding consistent form, but they’ve still scored important goals. Giménez is just coming back, after six months, a physical dip is normal. Füllkrug arrived in January, it’s a new league for him, and he hadn’t played for a while… but he’s made himself available. Until the end, the environment must remain positive. We have to reach our objective, whether we play with six forwards, eight, one or none doesn’t matter. What matters is approaching matches with a proactive attitude. In Naples we created chances; the result changes opinions. If we had won or drawn, the performance wouldn’t suddenly be better or worse, the mistakes within the match would have been the same. There are times when you just can’t score, but I believe in the quality of Leão, Nkunku, Giménez, Pulisic, Füllkrug, and Saelemaekers. Tomorrow will be difficult, Udinese are a physical team. They hit you on the break and occupy the pitch aggressively. Tomorrow evening we play at 6, with a different temperature compared to 20 days ago. There will be less intensity; it’s the end of the season, and results become more important. We need to focus on what we have to do.”
There’s been a drop compared to the first half of the season. What has changed?
“I believe in one thing only: working to improve, without losing balance or the team’s strength. At the start, when we changed so many players, the squad showed willingness, just as they are doing now. But it’s hard to explain why. That’s what makes football beautiful. In the end, what matters is the result. So what matters? Football is a wonderful and unpredictable game, but if you don’t get results, you can do all the beautiful things in the world and it won’t matter. There’s only one thing to do: win matches. That’s what shapes opinions.”
Allegri, Beyond the formation debate, is it time to make changes, or should you keep faith with those who have carried the team so far?
“Everyone is available, including Gabbia. He’ll travel with us and has completed his first full week of training, though he’s not at 100%. Loftus is fully recovered. I have everyone available, so there will be a chance to make some changes to bring fresh mental energy into the team.”
The team, against Lazio and against Napoli, did not show a convincing attitude...
“I don’t agree with the assessment of the team’s performance. If we had come away with a positive result from the same performance, would the judgement have changed? Everything depends on the result. Of course, everything can be improved. In the first half we conceded a shot from Spinazzola, where we defended poorly, and a counterattack. In the second half there was a long-range shot saved by Maignan, which came from one of our moves inside the box where we didn’t shoot. Then there was the goal. We can do better, I agree. The match in Rome against Lazio was worse than the one in Napoli in terms of performance. We need to do a little bit more: if we’ve missed out on results, it means we’ve been lacking something small. The result in Napoli must not mentally affect the environment, especially the players: they are having a good season, we are among the top four, and we need the strength and clarity to stay there. Tomorrow we play Udinese, and once that’s done we’ll prepare for Verona. Tomorrow doesn’t decide the season: we must prepare for it calmly.”
Can we rule you out as the new Italy national team coach?
“Before choosing the coach, they will have to decide who the president is. After that, they will decide.”
The form of Saelemaekers and his impact on the team. Why all these fines for lateness?
“That’s something you have to ask the players. Sometimes someone comes back late. No superstition. I avoid fines by arriving early myself (smiles, ndr). As for Saelemaekers: he has grown a lot. He is in a moment of both footballing and human maturity. He has these reactions where he goes a bit off rhythm. When he is off rhythm, he also makes technical mistakes. He still needs to improve further in managing himself.”
Allegri, going back, what would you change about the transfer market?
“Looking backwards is always a mistake. We look forward. The players have changed, the world has changed, a lot has changed. We try to reach the Champions League. Then, at the end of the season, we will see. We will analyse what was done well and what was done badly, in every area. That kind of discussion has to be done with a calm mind when everything has settled. When the league is ongoing and the ball is rolling, judgements are not clear, you are influenced by results. Tomorrow we have an opportunity, we hope to do well.”
Cassano says the national team’s failure is down to ‘Allegrismo’ and that Allegri does not know how to coach. What is your response?
“I had the fortune and pleasure of coaching Cassano. As a player he had extraordinary skills. I always said he should get a bit closer to Ronaldinho, who was someone who could make the ball go wherever he wanted. I respect everyone’s opinions. If he said that, he has paid me a big compliment: if I am responsible for everything, it means it has carried weight… (smiles, ndr).”
Do the strikers lack a bit of aggression in the box?
“Let’s hope we show it in these last seven matches. The centre-forwards we have have these characteristics, but we must be confident because they will give us a big hand in terms of goals.”
Does Milan lack a striker who reaches double figures like Lautaro, Giroud, Osimhen? Can Gimenez handle that responsibility right now?
“I arrived, we worked together, and then he had to stop because of his ankle. Now he is back, and it is normal there is a mental and physical rebound. You cannot talk about Gimenez, Leao or the others: we have to look at what is here and now. We all need to give a bit more, myself included, compared to what we have given so far. This is a decisive moment, step by step. I have full confidence in the quality of our attacking players. Let’s not forget that midfielders and defenders can also score. We need to be a solid block until the end, knowing that winning matches will not be easy.”
What did you mean when you said in Napoli: 'you must not get the match wrong'?
“Details and individual moments make the difference, and you have to make them work in your favour. Over the season we have done that; on Monday Napoli did it, taking advantage of the situation and scoring.”
What kind of match do you expect tomorrow?
“It is important not to concede counter-attacks, where they are very strong: they have technical and physical players. It will be a difficult match. We are in good condition. We must not overdo it tomorrow: it has to be a match lasting 100 minutes, played with good technique and great organisation.”
How long will it take to see Milan at a top Champions League level?
“The important thing is to work well for next season, if we return to the Champions League. Real Madrid–Bayern was a wonderful match. You only noticed the goalkeepers for their saves; they barely touched the ball with their feet. When the referee blew the final whistle, I was disappointed because I wanted the match to go on. When there are those fast technical plays, it is something beautiful. If we reach the Champions League, we must have the ambition to do things at the highest level.”
What have you learned this season?
“On a personal level it is always constant growth, interacting with new people. Everyone always gives you something. I am very curious about meeting people. On a technical-tactical level, this year we have worked in this way; maybe next year we will do the opposite of what we did this year, and that is also the beauty of football. I am not someone who sticks to habits. With the staff we need to reflect on everything we have done. If we reach the Champions League, we must try to improve everything.”
Will this season with Luka Modrić remain a special memory for you?
“I will just say one thing: all the champions I have coached, when I talk about them I always get emotional. It is emotional to still watch videos of their technical brilliance; that is the beauty of it. Without that, football would not be played.”
