Allegri discusses formation change, attacking issues, second half dip and Italy rumours

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has addressed the speculation he might move away from the 3-5-2 to try aid the attacking struggles.

Milan are once again required to dust themselves down and bounce back after a disappointing defeat. The loss to Napoli on Easter Monday was the third in their last six games, and all came via a 1-0 scoreline, to effectively end any faint hopes of a Scudetto comeback.

With Inter now nine points ahead and even second place surrendered, the Rossoneri must turn to defending their spot inside the top four, with fifth place only six points away. It starts with a home game against Udinese on Saturday evening, a team that are 11th so can treat it as a free hit of sorts.

Allegri on

Allegri spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello on the eve of the game for his pre-match press conference, answering questions on a variety of different topics. MilanNews transcribed it in full.

Will playing in front of the home fans be a positive faactor?

“Yes, it could be a factor. We’ve had a week since the away game in Naples, where the team also played well. The result influences our judgment. From now until the end, balance must reign. We’re still a few points away from our objective, so we need to get there one step at a time.

“There’s objective data: in the last three games, we’ve lost twice away from home, and from Parma to today, we haven’t scored three times. We need to approach this with great calm and clarity.”

How are the team doing mentally? Are you worried about the strikers’ lack of goals?

“The psychological aspect… It’s normal that after you lose in Naples, you lose second place, dropping to within nine points of Inter. The first two days were the most difficult. But then we need to focus on the objective.

“Maybe we weren’t good enough to be closer to Inter, we need to work on improving, without losing sight of the Champions League objective. There are seven games left, and some teams are improving.

“It happens during the season that there are moments when the strikers score and other times when they don’t. But I’m sure that from here on out they’ll score goals that will help us qualify for the Champions League.”

Could there be a change in formation?

“The changes, I repeat, I don’t want to be boring. Is Saelemaekers a striker or a full-back? If it were just a matter of formations, it would be too easy. There needs to be a balance. In Naples, you go to get a result, but you can also lose. One match shouldn’t destabilise a year’s work.

“At the end of the year, we’ll sit down and evaluate everything. Physically, managerially, what was done well or poorly. But with balance and clarity, without letting ourselves get overwhelmed by events. Because if we get overwhelmed by events, disaster will happen.”

What exactly is wrong with the forwards?

“Pulisic and Leao have unfortunately had various injuries, which have prevented them from finding their fitness. But they have scored important goals. Gimenez is just getting back, but after six months he could have a physical decline.

“Fullkrug arrived in January, a new league, and he’s been out for a while… He made himself available. We need to maintain a positive atmosphere until the end. We need to reach our objective: whether we play with six strikers, eight, one or none at all, it doesn’t matter.

“What matters is playing games with a proactive attitude. In Naples we had chances, the result changes opinions. If we had won or drawn, it’s not as if the performance would have been better or worse, the mistakes during the match would have been the same.

“There are moments when you can’t score, but I think the quality of Leao, Nkunku, Gimenez, Pulisic, Fullkrug, and Saelemaekers is high. Tomorrow will be difficult, Udinese are a physical team. They attack you, they hold the field devastatingly.

“Tomorrow night we play at 18:00, with a different temperature than 20 days ago. There will be less pace, we are at the end of the season, the result becomes more important. We need to focus on what we have to do.”

There’s been a decline compared to the first half of the season. What’s changed?

“I believe in only one thing: working to improve, without losing the balance and strength of a team. When we first started, changing so many players, the team made itself available as it is now. But it’s hard to say why; that’s what makes football beautiful.

“In the end, what matters is the result. So, what matters? Football, which is a wonderful and unpredictable game, if you don’t get a result, you can do all the best things in the world, but there’s only one thing to do: win matches. That’s what changes opinion.”

Beyond the discussion on formation, is it time to make some changes or is it better to keep confidence in those who have been pulling the cart so far?

“Everyone is available, including Gabbia. He’ll be coming with us and has been training for the first week, but he’s not 100%. Loftus is fully recovered. I have everyone available, and there will be the opportunity to make some substitutions to recharge our batteries mentally.”

It was said that the team didn’t have a convincing attitude against Lazio and Napoli…

“I don’t agree with the team’s performance. Had we come away with a positive result, would the assessment have changed? Everything depends on the result. Then everything can be done better, absolutely.

“In the first half, we conceded a shot from Spinazzola that we defended poorly and a counter-attack. In the second half, a shot from outside the box was saved by Maignan, resulting from our own play inside the box where we didn’t shoot. And then there was the goal.

“We can do better, I agree. The match in Rome against Lazio was worse than the one in Naples in terms of performance. We need to do a little more: if we missed results, it means we were missing a little more. The result in Naples mustn’t affect the mental environment, especially the lads.

“They’re having a good season, we’re in the top four, we need to have the strength and clarity to stay there. Tomorrow we play Udinese, and after Udinese we’ll prepare for Verona. Tomorrow the season doesn’t end: we have to prepare it with serenity.”

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Can we rule you out as the new Italy coach?

“Before the coach, they’ll have to decide who the president is. Then they’ll decide from there.”

Is Saelemaekers having a tough moment? And why are there so many fines for being late onto the field?

“You have to ask the players that. Some of them come back late every now and then. No superstition. I come out early to avoid fines!

“On Saelemaekers, he’s grown a lot. He’s at a point of maturity both as a player and as a person. He has these reactions where he gets a little off his rhythm. When he’s off his rhythm, he also makes technical mistakes. He needs to improve even more in his personal management.”

Looking back, what would you change about the market?

“Always thinking backwards is a mistake. Let’s look forward. The boys have changed, the world has changed, a lot has changed. We’re trying to get to the Champions League. Then, once the season is over, we’ll see, analysing what we did well and what we didn’t, in every area.

“It’s a discussion that needs to be made with great clarity. When the season is underway and the ball is in play, you don’t make clear judgments, you’re conditioned by the result. Tomorrow we have a chance, let’s hope we do well.”

Cassano says the national team’s failure is due to Allegri’s attitude and that Allegri doesn’t know how to coach. What’s your response?

“I had the fortune and pleasure of coaching Cassano. As a player, he had extraordinary skills. I always said he was a bit like Ronaldinho, who was someone who passed the ball wherever he wanted.

“I respect everyone’s opinions. If he said that, he was paying me a great compliment: if I’m responsible for everything, it means I have a certain influence… (smiles).”

Are the forwards lacking a bit of aggression in the penalty area?

“We hope to do so in these last seven games. The center forwards we have have these characteristics, but we need to be confident because they’ll give us a big hand in scoring.”

Milan are missing a double-digit striker like Lautaro, Giroud or Osimhen. Can Gimenez handle this burden right now?

“I arrived, we worked together, and then he had to stop with his ankle. Now he’s back, and it’s normal for him to bounce back mentally and physically. We can’t talk about Gimenez, Leao, or that other guy: we have to look at what he is right now. We all have to give something more than we’ve given.

“This is a crucial moment, one small step at a time. I have full confidence in the quality of the players we have up front. Let’s not forget that midfielders and defenders can also score goals. We have to be a rock-solid unit from now until the end, knowing that it will be difficult to win matches.”

What did you mean when you said ‘You mustn’t play a bad game’ in Naples?

“Details and incidents make the difference, and you have to take that on board. We’ve done it all year, and on Monday Napoli did it by taking advantage of the situation and scoring.”

What kind of match do you expect tomorrow?

“It’s important not to be on the receiving end of their counter-attacks, which they’re good at: they have technical and physical players. It’s a tough match. We’re in good condition. We can’t overdo it tomorrow: we need to play a 100-minute game with good technique and great order.”

How long will it take to see Milan perform at their best in the Champions League?

“The important thing is to try to work hard for next season, if we return to the Champions League. Real Madrid-Bayern was a wonderful match. We 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 game to continue. When you have those kinds of technical plays at speed, it’s a wonderful thing. If we were to qualify for the Champions League, we’d have to have the ambition to do everything we could.”

What have you learned this season?

“On a personal level, it’s always been a constant process of growth, interacting with new people. Everyone always gives you something. I’m very curious about meeting new people. On a technical and tactical level.

“This year we’ve worked this way, maybe next year we’ll do the opposite of what we did this year, that’s also the beauty of football. I’m not a creature of habit.

“With the staff, we need to reflect on everything we’ve done. If we were to qualify for the Champions League, we’d have to try to improve everything.”

Will this season with Luka Modric remain a memory for you?

“I’ll just say one thing: all the champions I’ve coached, when I talk about them I always get emotional. It’s exciting to still see the videos of their technical feats, that’s the beauty of it. Without that, football isn’t playing.”