Massimiliano Allegri adopted a glass half full approach after AC Milan were beaten in the Coppa Italia by Lazio.
Milan’s Coppa Italia drought will continue for another season and will hit 23 years (by the final next May) after they were beaten 1-0 by Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. The only goal of the game came 10 minutes from time as Mattia Zaccagni rose to head in a corner unopposed.
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The Rossoneri had produced the better of the chances up until that point, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rafael Leao spurning opportunities. The cup curse in the capital continues though after the defeat in the final to Bologna a few months ago, and Lazio get some revenge for the league loss.
Allegri’s reaction
Allegri spoke to SportMediaset after the full-time whistle to give his assessments on what was a bitter night for his side, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
Did Lazio want the victory more?
“The winner is always right. Lazio won a match in which they had more difficulties than on Saturday. It was a stalemated game, and whoever scored first won: we had a chance and didn’t score, then we didn’t defend well on the corner
“Jashari had a good game after a long time, Ricci had a good game. It’s disappointing to be eliminated because we were keen, but now we have to put everything aside and focus on Torino.”
Is it a step backwards?
“No. We should be angry: when we lose and are eliminated, we should be disappointed. On the other hand, we have to look ahead; there’s Torino and Sassuolo before the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia.”
What do you complain about more: missed chances or goals conceded?
“We could have defended better on the goal. We were in control of the game and missed three or four easy chances: we gave away a free-kick, a corner, and then conceded. It happened against Cremonese and Pisa: it becomes dangerous and we need to improve…”
What do you ask of Leao as a striker?
“He had a good chance again tonight, he moved well in and around the box: when he’s not there, he has to be occupied with other players. He played a good match and made himself available to the team.
“We shouldn’t get depressed because we have a whole season ahead of us and the goal is to play in the Champions League next year.”
Have you asked for a striker in January?
“We have Pulisic and Leao, who have scored 10 goals between them: we need our midfielders to score more goals from set pieces. Gimenez still has to return.”
Are you superstitious? Napoli also lost to Lazio in the Coppa Italia round of 16…
“No, I can feel the negative people immediately. It’s still a long way off… Do you know how many times Milan have won in Turin in the last twelve years? Just the year of COVID. We’ll face a very difficult match, let’s try to prepare well.”
Allegri should stop playing Leao as a striker stop wasting the dangerous chances he was supposed to create as a left winger. You can’t play without a standing striker. You Nkunku who we bought for 36 million euros and if anyone can argue he’s not a good player should know that if a player isn’t used regularly his best won’t come out
Allegri is doing a great work but should stop using Leao as a striker because he’s not
We know that Leao is not a clinical forward,he would not score that chance with his left foot..
I love 2 strikers formation but I see the 2 forwards are not functioning well, it must be said that Jashari is a midfield star,he was very good at on the ball dictating the tempo..
Let’s forget about the past and focus on serie A starting again against Torino.. hope for a win
Forza Milan
“I love 2 strikers formation”
Me too but only when those strikers are actual strikers! Leao & Pulisic aren’t strikers. That’s the issue. We only have one striker and he’s shooting blanks and is sidelined. Awesome.
I just don’t care about Coppa Italia. For me is better we exit this useless competition. For me, it would have been better to exit this competition early, in the previous round. If I were the owner of Milan I would have request the coach to play with Primavera in this competition.
My thoughts are oriented to the game with Torino. I win it’s a must. All in for Scudetto. Every game approached like a final, especially with “smaller” clubs.
“We have Pulisic and Leao, who have scored 10 goals between them: we need our midfielders to score more goals from set pieces. Gimenez still has to return.”
We also need to defend better against set pieces.
Against Roma we conceded a penalty from a freekick situation.
In the derby, the 2 times Inter hit the post were from corners.
Against Lazio in serie A, early on they had a freekick where Maignan had to make a magic save.
And yesterday we conceded from a corner.
That pre-game picture is horrible. Saelemaekers looks depressed. Ricci is having a pooping orgasm and Tomori and Estupinan look lost. Only Leao and Jashari look like they are looking forward to the game.
Only Estupido look somewhere else, with his eyes open. He’s looking at something in the stands, totally not prepared for the game
Milan should never be angry. Not the same milan. Under the new owner, this is completely screwed