On the eve of the clash between AC Milan and Atalanta, Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media at the usual press conference at Milanello.
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Milan have won just one of their last five games and certainly need to pick themselves up in the final three games of the season. Without a bounce-back, they will miss out on the Champions League for the second consecutive year.
In short, the pressure is on Allegri and his men to turn a corner against Atalanta tomorrow. However, as the gaffer warned during his press conference (as transcribed by MilanNews), it will require a lot of effort to get the win.
We often talk about the fans. Will you need their support tomorrow night more than ever?
“So far, we can only thank them: since August 17th, they have been there for us, and the stadium has always been full. We have always felt their support, and they’ll continue to do so tomorrow night at a crucial moment of the season.
“We have a tough match ahead of us. We have had a good week of work and tomorrow we will face Atalanta, looking to get back to winning ways, which has been missing at home for some time.”
Is there an explanation for the defeat in Reggio Emilia?
“It’s not like your physical condition will improve in two days. Right now, it’s the mental aspect that counts. We mustn’t lose desire, conviction, and above all enthusiasm. We will need courage tomorrow, like in Genoa and against Cagliari, without wasting energy on other things, but above all by focusing on tomorrow night’s match.
“Atalanta also have the goal of maintaining seventh place. We will have to be very good. Last Sunday was a very strange match. We had to avoid conceding a goal early in the second half, and we conceded it too easily.”
How much difference will the mind make? Have you been a psychologist?
“In these moments, instead of talking and talking, we just have to do something. We have had good days of training. It’s not that Atalanta are tired, they are a great team: we have to put in a great performance to get the result.”
Are you worried?
“I’m not worried: you have to look at things positively. It’s normal that when you come off a defeat like the one against Sassuolo, you see things more negatively than they are. We have our destiny in our hands.
“Football is beautiful because everything can and must change in 90 minutes.”
What’s the explanation for not scoring? How do you flick the switch?
“We can’t change what we have done in these 10 months. Tomorrow starts a three-game mini-season, so we have to look at it this way: we have a three-point advantage. If we get the results we need, we will get to the Champions League.
“Otherwise, we don’t deserve to get to the Champions League. I will evaluate the lineup tomorrow morning, but right now I need everyone; everyone except Modric and Tomori is available.”
Do you want to put players with more motivation as starters?
“Today is the last training session, and tomorrow we will finish the set pieces: I’ll decide tomorrow. Games are long, and the substitutions in the last half hour decide the match. Regardless, everyone will have to be involved: we are at a crucial and important moment.”
What kind of atmosphere did you experience outside of Milanello?
“We have worked well at Milanello, as we have all year. Then there’s a moment when things go better or worse: in the second half of the season, we haven’t had results, and it’s up to us to reverse the trend. Only we can do it.”
Have you found an explanation for this performance? Will tomorrow be decisive?
“Tomorrow is crucial because we are at the end with three games to go. I said it before: wasting energy right now trying to find explanations makes no sense. We will have to make assessments in 15 days: all our energy must be focused on tomorrow’s match.”
What role does Modric play? Will he return for the last game?
“Even if Modric comes to Milanello to work, it’s almost impossible that he’ll be on the pitch on for the final game.”
There is a protest tomorrow, and there was a petition against Furlani…
“At the management level and with the club, beyond the discussions where everyone has their say and we can’t all agree, we all have the goal of reaching the Champions League. Tomorrow we need the fans, because tomorrow we must all work together to achieve this difficult goal, as I said before. We’re here, and we need to focus all our energy on tomorrow.”
You lived through Berlusconi’s last Milan and Agnelli’s Juve. Does this club have a winning mentality in your opinion?
“I’ve never been alone. When we had meetings, there was always a discussion: we tried to ensure the team could achieve results and be sustainable. Many players were replaced, and it wasn’t easy: even players who had performed a little less well came from foreign leagues.
“I think we have created a good foundation: whether we could have done better or worse, I don’t know. The important thing is that Milan can play in the Champions League next year.”
You’re the only guarantor for the fans. When you talk about unity within the club, are you telling the fans the truth?
“This year we have worked well. Results have been lacking recently. The fans must give us a hand because together we must ensure that Milan plays in the Champions League. Then, when we have discussions, there are things we agree on.
“The important thing is that everyone works for the club. Many have passed through Milan, but what remains is the club. Those within Milan must work for the club, which has a history to uphold and a glorious DNA.
“I have seen this in the management, but it’s not easy to get results. If we manage to finish in the top four this year, it means we have done a good job and that there’s a good basis for improvement next year. The important thing is that we all have to work for the club.”
What can Jashari bring and what can Ricci bring as Modric’s deputy?
“They are two very reliable players. The club made an excellent signing in Jashari, but unfortunately he’s coming back from injury and had Modric ahead of him. He’s in his first year in Italy, with a different pace, tactics, and teams. Ricci has proven to be a very reliable player and guy, both from start and during the game.”
Will you stay at Milan?
“Right now, the most important thing is Milan: the next few games and next season. We have worked for 10 months with great focus and dedication: we must respect all the people who make themselves available to us to help us perform at our best. I haven’t thought about anything else because my goal is to stay at Milan for as long as possible.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 tomorrow and it will be very interesting to see what the mood will be like inside San Siro. The fans aren’t exactly thrilled with the recent results and reports of another summer revolution aren’t helping things.