AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri answered some understandably difficult questions after his side lost 3-0 against Udinese at San Siro.
The build-up to the game was dominated by the news that Allegri had decided to try and unlock the attacking department by adding an extra forward at the expense of a centre-back, thus trying the 4-3-3 that various fans and pundits have been calling for.
The result was the worst performance of the season. An own-goal, an Ekkelenkamp header and an Arthur Atta strike allowed Udinese to leave with three goals and three points, while the Rossoneri again failed to score and could have conceded even more in truth.
Allegri denies systemic issue
Allegri spoke to DAZN at the end of the game to analyse what was the most difficult night of the season for his side, continuing a rough run of recent results. MilanNews relayed his comments.
It is Milan’s heaviest defeat of the season. What went wrong? Is it due to the change in formation?
“The change in formation has absolutely nothing to do with it. It’s a tough moment for the team. We’ve lost three of our last four. In the second half of the season, we didn’t score four times.
“If you’re in the top four, going four games without scoring isn’t good. Today, we had some good chances to score, but we didn’t. Then we defended in a disorganised way because we were too hasty.
“Even on the second goal, we had three against one… We need to get back to being organised and focused because we have every chance of returning to the Champions League.”
Are you taking a risk now?
“Football is beautiful, but it’s also ugly. You can’t let events get you down. You have to restore order in the game. Defensively, we were too hasty in stealing the ball, we were too slow in moving it around.
“When we managed to open up the game, we even had good opportunities. When we didn’t, we slipped through, we lost the ball, and they broke back, because Udinese is a team that can hurt you when they lose those central balls.”
There were jeers at full-time…
“It’s part of football. When you win, you’re good; when you lose, you’re not. It’s fair that we booed them today, it’s not that the team didn’t try. There’s nothing to criticise about the effort the lads put in.
“The only thing we can do right now is work hard to prepare for the Verona match with complete composure. Above all, we should see this defeat as an opportunity to do better in the next match.
“We’ll play a game that’s in our DNA, with much more order, patience, and clarity, which we lacked today. We were in such a hurry to get the result, and we surrendered to the opponent.”
Having lost the dream of the Scudetto, has the team unconsciously weakened the hunger that had characterised you all season?
“You’re absolutely right. When you’re at the top, you’re at the end of the season, and you lose the title, you have a moment of relaxation. I’m sure the lads will react, we all will react, and this defeat makes us understand that our Champions League spot is at risk.”
Is Leao’s time at Milan coming to an end?
“In the first half, he had two important chances as a centre-forward. Then, when the spaces are tight, it’s difficult to beat the man because they double up on him. It’s not a question of Rafa or anyone else, it’s a question of putting in different performances and being more patient in defence.”
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
I will say that Allegri always protects his players. Also, since Gimenez is likely to stay next year I was surprised he didn’t get a run.
Alegri should leave
and get who? Palladino? Fabregas? So they can come here and lose 10-2 to Madrid Barca Bayern etc and then have Milan fans celebrate in the stands because we played bEaUtiFuL fOoTbAlL
Sign me up for Fabregas.
BTW, Fabregas Como have scored more goals this season than Allegri’s Milan and surprise surprise they have given up less goals than Allegri’s Milan. Como has the best defense in serie A.
You see, you can play beautiful football and still be better defensively than Allegriball.
Fabregas the racist who doesn’t play Italians. No thanks.
Fabrigas ,xavi alonso, xavi hernandes, and so many better couches are available
you should watch basketball
Way more entertaining than watching Allegriball
My question to Allegri in your 433 who was the top striker Leao or Pulisic? I think it’s highly time you leave Milan alone and go elsewhere. You are getting everything wrong.
Allegri is the problem of Milan not the players
True talk bro 💯 allegri is d problem of Milan
That’s such a stupid comment, so you need a “proper” striker to play a 433, news to me. Who is the proper striker at PSG, the reigning European champions? Leao didn’t have a great game, even if the hate is completely overblown like everything in this fan base. The issues weren’t in the attack, Leao and Pulisic got themselves in great positions and while they should be scoring, the issue in attack definitely wasn’t Leao at cf. I don’t disagree that Allegri might not be the right manager but at least put emphasis on the right problems
Yes it did Allegri…it had everything to do with the result….that and the team selection. Allegri you got everything wrong today buddy!
I was shocked by how poor ACM’s defenders were.
I swear to God, people calling for Allegri to leave…. LMAO!!! Please go back and enjoy the last season.
Is it any different this season compared to last if Milan misses on UCL, especially when they basically only played in 1 competition 75% of the season compared to last season when they played in 4 competitions, won the Supercopa in December, played in the UCL until February, and played in Copa Italia until May?
Is it still funny that people call for allegri to leave?
💯
Guys don’t bury sitters and defenders miss basic marking assignments that no professional coach should need to remind a player of but the coach is the problem? The result is due to poor individual plays at crucial moments that are elementary, the players have to do better than they did. No coach will play the game for you or make you execute a play that any fundamentally sound professional could. This one is on the players and their lack of timing, execution and judgment in the heat of the moment.
You got it or you don’t as an athlete. Coaches don’t teach that. They work on the skills and strategies so you can be capable of making the right plays, when you fail to use those skills in game situations, that is your failure as a performer.
“Please go back and enjoy the last season.”
We’re now 3rd. Next week we’ll be 4th. After Juve match we’re already out of UCL.
So… How does that compare to last season? 5th or 8th? Who the f*** cares? Allegri isn’t bringing results people want. Look at the 4 last matches. Is this the “results” you Allegri-fanatics are shouting about?
I dont think its about allegri and his formation, it were the player… N one of them was leao, he is declining, he didnt help this team anymore, so why he must to stay?, if it was depend on me then i will sell him, 65-70M is fair enough
Why are people getting so angry when some writes that allegri should leave. As if he is the best coach out there. He was a good coach at some point, but the game changes and good coaches learn how to adapt. Allegri is a dinosaur, just like mourinho in a sense. I would love to see the next generation of italian coaches play more of a direct football. Not try to be so calculated all the time. Let the boys play. Hope the Italian federation changes to that. Allegri should leave, only if the management has clear ideas of what kind football they want to have and hire a BETTER coach than allegri.
Why do you all call for a BETTER coach but never offer a name…go ahead tell us.
I heard Gattuso was looking for a job😂
Name one italian coach that play a more direct play like u said….
I am impressed we are in a position to make the CL. Given how this season played out with injuries and how thin the roster is in terms of depth, versatility as well. I consider it as an accomplishment. I don’t think this roster is in a position to win or compete for a semi final in the Europa League.
This roster needs big pieces in all positions to be added this summer to reach a level to stand our ground in the CL. Sadly, we won’t be ready for better clubs that have players at similar or lower levels but have cores that have been playing at that level consistently for years.
We can get in the CL, it won’t be nice to watch. This team will struggle to stay competitive in Serie A and Europe with yet again pieces settling in.
Getting rid of Abraham and Jovic was a moronic decision then you add Gimenez getting injured and Leao suffering what is potentially career changing injury. Allegri has done a good job overall, but he needs to stop being stubborn and play Gimenez as CF. Tare and co have a lot of work to do and many players will leave.
Getting rid of Abraham and Jovic was a terrible decision then you add Gimenez getting injured and Leao suffering what is potentially career changing injury. Allegri has done a good job overall, but he needs to stop being stubborn and play Gimenez as CF. Tare and co have a lot of work to do and many players will leave.
It can only get better with this team. Let’s hope the management ensure the prize money is well allocated in recruiting top players mixed with gems.
it’s not about the system change, it just that the players already on the summer preparation mode. they think the season is over. they are all hasty and disorganized because their concentration were outside the match from the start, it’s already in the summer.
The best formation to this team is 442 with Leo and Nkunku as the strikers or Gimnez and Pulisic. Ricci Rabiot Modrich Fofana in midfield
Let allegri go, he’s playing stupid football. Who does that? He talks about DNA, is it his allegri defensive DNA he’s talking? Please let allegri go and give us new gems like fabregas