AC Milan's boss, Massimiliano Allegri, is getting ready to face Udinese tomorrow.
Here are his words to the media in a press conference:
"How important is continuity? I know the team comes off two wins and tomorrow we face a match that is very difficult for me. Udinese is physical but also technical, and it is never easy in Udine. The players know it is important, and we have a significant opportunity knowing we face a complicated team."
"Have we moved past last year’s shock? The field will tell, it is not like we all became perfect after two wins. Tomorrow we must switch on immediately. It is important for us now even if we are at the start. We must play with compactness, it will be difficult, and we need to take advantage of the chances we get. So far, our conversion rate is low, we must be ready."
On Rafael Leao, he said:
"Leao? He is progressing well, we hope to have him back with the group next week and then against Napoli. Maignan? He is fine, I believe he will be in goal against Lecce on Tuesday."
On balance and Youssouf Fofana, Allegri said:
"It is not a question of imbalance right now or in two months. Maybe in two months we will also change the way we play, improving fitness and confidence, it depends on the moment. The team must know it can play in different ways during the match. Fofana is a great, important player, but he needs to score more goals. We are working with everyone in that regard. We must forget about wins and focus on what we need to do. Of these four matches, including Lecce, Napoli, and Juventus, tomorrow’s game is the most important," as relayed via Milan News.
On goals distributed in the team:
"By the end of the season, a certain number must come from a forward, a certain number from midfielders, and so on. I think we have very skilled forwards: Leao, Pulisic, Loftus, Nkunku have goals in them. Midfielders with their runs and defenders with headers can also help."
On how VAR can improve, Allegri commented:
"I do not know exactly what needs improvement. I can only say VAR is a tool that has reduced errors during matches. It is normal that in many situations VAR is subjective. Errors have happened, happen, and will happen. It is normal. The area that needs work is when there is a clear offside and then a corner kick: these are objective situations and need improvement. I struggle to set up the lineup, they need to make it as objective as possible."
On Santiago Gimenez:
"He has had many chances, he must stay calm because he has always scored and he will score goals."
On Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao:
"Lies have short legs. Leao is progressing well, we hope to have him available against Napoli. He will definitely not play against Lecce. Pulisic is much better, he came on well. He is a really good player. Tomorrow I will decide whether to start him, Tuesday we have another important match. The substitutes have contributed a lot, Ricci and the others did very well. The important thing is the final goal: to reach the top four, taking it step by step."
On removing the jacket:
"I took it off very carefully, I did not want to tear it. But I made a mistake and tomorrow I will not be on the bench."
On the week being too "sweet" and critics praising Milan:
"There is no need. I have a group of responsible and serious players. Tomorrow is very important to maintain continuity in results. We will approach the match with the right mental condition."
When will Samuele Ricci be able to start?
"Since he arrived, Samuele has been constantly growing physically, technically, and mentally. He did the preseason very well. He is always ready and is a reliable player. When you build a team that competes for certain goals, you need many players who are mentally reliable, and Samuele is one of them."
On the current defensive phase, Allegri said:
"First of all, we have 10 new players out of 19. The more time passes, the more they get to know each other, and the better we will perform. Against Bologna, there were moments when we made wrong passing choices because we needed to manage differently. Do not think the defensive phase is unresolved as a team, not just the defenders. As a team, we make it harder for opponents to score."
Luis Enrique watches matches from the stands, will you do the same tomorrow?
"Tomorrow I will try. Luis Enrique is very good at it, I do not know if I will manage, let’s hope."
Who will be captain tomorrow against Udinese?
"99% sure it will be Gabbia. Now you know someone who plays."
"A great team for gestures? An important detail: both against Lecce and Bologna, the goal celebrations showed me we are becoming a team, all with the same objective"
Last year the cooling break incident, this year a united group. Do you feel the environment is finally united?
"Players must be united, they are the ones who win matches. I try to help and do as little damage as possible. We must keep a low profile: at Milan, winning matches is normal. Winning two matches must be normal, not exceptional. Losing a match is the exception. There must not be this up and down. We need mental strength to understand that 35 matches remain to reach the end. We must reach the goal step by step, points are missing, and we must get them."
Where does Luka Modric rank among the champions you have coached?
"I have been lucky, I have coached many. Modric is a Ballon d’Or, there is no need to say more. It is a pleasure to watch him play. He is a man who offers himself to the group with great availability."
Allegri also spoke about Alexis Saelemaekers, saying the following:
"Alex is an important player, he has the qualities to become very strong. Against Bologna, he remained mentally balanced throughout the match."
A Change from a 3- to 4-man defense during the Bologna match for the yellow-carded players?
"Don’t talk to me about numbers. All the players who were booked played with great balance, one step ahead of tactical or technical considerations."
Christian Pulisic breaking games from the bench?
"He had been sidelined due to some issues. He can play from the start or from the bench, he is a strong player."
Is Milan able to concede few goals? Allegri replied:
"We will see in the end. We work every day to improve each player’s qualities. If we end up conceding 20, 30, or 40 goals, we will see in the end. If we concede few, the players will have done well."
Best defense in Europe for expected goals conceded and actual goals conceded… How did you reach such a high level of defensive focus in so little time?
“By working and especially thanks to the availability of players with important qualities. The key is the players’ qualities; without them, it’s difficult. We have played few matches, so we must stay grounded. I understand this is an intense environment, I try to avoid the explosions. Life must be lived normally, and Milan’s normality is winning matches: losing is the exception. We are only at the third match, 85 points remain to reach the top. We will have to suffer, and seeing this team spirit on the pitch is important. When our fans are at home, they give us great support. I repeat: tomorrow is one of the four most important matches of the season.”
