The derby buzz fills the air, but Massimiliano Allegri is not the type to get carried away. After the win over Inter, Milan have the chance tomorrow to spend a night at the top by beating Lazio at San Siro. Max brings everyone back down to earth, though. "You need balance, in good moments and bad. If we had not won last Sunday, today we would be five points off the top and outside the Champions League places. The table is tight this year, seven teams within seven points. So stop talking about the derby, focus on Lazio, who will not be an easy opponent."
The target The Rossoneri coach looks beyond the present, repeating the mantra that has marked almost every press conference since his unveiling in mid-summer. "The target stays the same, return to the Champions League. Keep this in mind, the points total needed this year might be higher than usual. The points total for the title might drop." The title. In Allegri’s thinking, at least until March, it stays a taboo, though he is the one bringing it up now without a direct question. Maybe a slip, because the ex Juvnetus coach knows Milan need further progress. "One step at a time," he says when speaking about growth, as relayed via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Ideas The derby brought another awareness beyond the three points. No, not the idea that Inter-Milan would have ended differently with the goalkeepers swapped. "You cannot do that, Maignan is registered with us and Sommer with them," Allegri laughs, after several pundits raised the theory. The point is more about football philosophy. "The criticism about our play? There is no shame in defending when you do not have the ball. Our defenders must enjoy defending, fighting duels, and we are improving here." And if they get beaten, there is still super Maignan. "Mike is one of the best, but we do not talk about his renewal, only the club deals with that," the coach cuts off reporters.
Allegri's focus is only on tomorrow night’s Serie A match with Lazio.
"They were unable to work in the market and had several injuries, but Lazio have strong players, they are well coached and they are growing," Max warns. He sees Lazio still in the race for Europe’s top competition despite sitting seven points behind Milan. In practice, this is a direct clash. Even if the fans are breathing a different air.
