Massimiliano Allegri believes that there are more positives than negatives to take from AC Milan’s draw against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma dominated large parts of the game, particularly in the first half, but then when Koni De Winter headed in a corner in the second half it looked like another one of those ‘Allegrian’ nights in a big game.
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Unfortunately the lead wouldn’t last for too long, as Davide Bartesaghi was penalised for a handball inside the box, and Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the penalty. There was no real late drama in truth, as the two sides were forced to accept a 1-1 draw.
After Mike Maignan had expressed his frustration over the penalty and Luka Modric had spoken about the ‘unlucky’ spot kick, Allegri faced the DAZN cameras to comment on the draw. MilanNews relayed his words.
How do you interpret this draw?
“We had a good first seven or eight minutes, well-played, with situations we could have done better. Then Roma came out and we missed a few vertical balls, which they are very good at; they got to the second balls first.
“Maignan did well to keep us in it. The second half was different, we improved our technical side, but they dropped off. We come away with a good result, a 1-1 draw in Rome at this point in the season is very important: gaining a point on Napoli and keeping Roma within four points.”
Is a first half under pressure becoming a constant?
“They pushed hard. There’s always a team that pushes more in one half than another: in the second half we were more aggressive. Against a pressing team like theirs, you have to play with long triangles, as we did better in the second half. We took three or four chances with the ball coming out ourselves.
“We needed to be more organised, but instead we often left Gabbia in one-on-one situations. We were ahead, even defending well, but then, as happens in football, at a moment when everything seemed to be going well, we conceded a penalty.”
Were there too many technical errors?
“In the first half, yes, we missed four balls on the right. In the second half, we had some favourable situations, even after the 1-0, where the feeling was that it was easier for us to make it 2-0 than to concede 1-1.”
Is the squad stronger now, especially in attack? What’s your assessment of the individual players?
“All four are important players. When I made the substitutions, Leao and Nkunku were growing, but I needed a jumper and Pulisic’s determination, which could close the game. Then, as always, I think one thing and another happens…”
Was that a slight on Pulisic? Maybe I’m misunderstanding his last statement.
No, he said he needed a jumper fulkrug, and also then pulisics determination, and thats what he thought he needed. but another thing happened penalty. Altough the subs were standing there waiting when the penalty happened.
Ah I misread it. Thanks!
Ah I misread it. Thanks!
I don’t like Allegri. He doesn’t play football. He is just there to get corners & head home. This isn’t a coach. Rubbish!
Plz bring coach, as in coach that can play beautifully & win. Some body like Fabregas, please
@Aliyu Gimba👍. I don’t really like the pattern Ac Milan is playing even though we still winning. We need good football and he should allow our wingers to express themselves not this defensive pattern🤨🤨
Coaches like that cost a lot. Our management is too cheap.
“When I made the substitutions, Leao and Nkunku were growing”
Growing? Really? They did absolutely nothing on the pitch. Füllkrug’s header from 16 meters was far more dangerous than anything that starting duo combined could cause during their ~70 min MIA-display.
Who am i to criticize Allegri? But i feel that leao and nkunku should not have played yesterday. Fullkrug and Pulisic would have been better. Also quite clear that Saele has worked hard and played a lot and now deserves a rest.
I’ll blame part of the game to the coach. It seems to me the team only do defending practice in training and he asks the team to figure out how to attack and score on the pitch.
Too many times we were losing balls in progression and in the final third for no reason. Radiot was quite casual also.
And Leao? I don’t understand him with those stupid ficks and feint that he was doing. There was a chance he gave away, and at that moment, I missed Pulisic who doesn’t waste time with rubbish flicks.
Maybe at hindsight, Puli and Fulkrug should have started and we would have killed the game in the first half.
But please Allegri, stop playing for a draw. I could see clearly that the team could have beaten Roma with a little more determination.
No Fofana to blame today 😂. Truth is the team is just going on vibes and a sprinkle of individual brilliance. Nothing more.
Men! That would have been worse. I didn’t even miss the dude
Allegri wants the game to be 0-0 for the first 80 minutes and MAYBE then he might want us to attack once to try and score the 1-0 winner. Yesterday we did that way too soon and it spoiled Allegri’s plan.
We’re definitely approaching EVERY match as “let’s not lose this one” attitude. Pathetic. A mid-table team attitude.
Allegri is deluded, we were terrible and Roma absolutely deserved to win.
leao will always leao, he always inconsisten in many occasion, sometimes play like true top player but sometimes play like flop player when we need him the most. if he not fit enough why he playing despite allegri who choose him he should known his own conditions, i think its just his mentality problem, he is not focus on football
I won’t say he didn’t play well. For me he didn’t try to keep things simple and precise
Why we are not playing our players in their best positions is crazy. We are AC Milan. Teams need to worry when they play against us. Every team dominates us and we rely on magic Mike. We should be playing 4231 with players we have. Luka & Ricci in front of the defence with Leao, Rabiot, Pulisic & Fullkrug in front of them. De Winter & Pavlovic in the center of defence, Bartesaghi on the left and Saelemaekers or Tomori or Athekame on the right. Problems solved. Roma could have won the game in the first half but magic Mike kept us in the game as in previous games.
Even Fiorentina who are/were in the relegation zone dominated against us. They also played better as a team than us. Do they have better material? I don’t think so.