Massimiliano Allegri provided a fascinating response when asked about AC Milan potentially needing a new striker.
Milan went into the season with only Santiago Gimenez as a recognised striker, but he has missed the last few games due to injury and he is yet to score a league goal. It seems that Allegri’s vision was and remains to have Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic up front, both of whom are natural wingers.
There have been suggestions that the Milan boss has asked for a target man in the January window to give him a more direct option. Names like Jean-Philippe Mateta and Mateo Pellegrino are being floated, but until then Allegri must work with what he has.
‘A question of characteristics’
The former Juventus boss spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello for his pre-match press conference on the eve of the trip to Piedmont, and he was asked If there is an ideal striker for this Milan side.
“We’ve talked about it many times. Of true centre-forwards between Juventus and Milan, but also at Cagliari, I only had one: Higuain. Mandzukic was varied, he also played left wing,” he said.
“Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Cassano, and Pato… Ibra was much better at sending the others forward, he became a centre-forward in his old age. It’s a question of characteristics, I have to try to put them in the best possible conditions.
“The important thing, however, is to score goals. Right now, two of the four forwards we have have scored 10 goals, we need goals from Nkunku, Gimenez, the midfielders, and the defenders.
“At the end of the season, to be there you have to score a certain number of goals and concede fewer. I’ve never seen a team win or finish in the top positions with a minimal goal difference, and that’s mathematically.”
He forgot Matri. He had him in Cagliari, Milan and Juventus.
Milan needs a striker who will come of the bench.
They play 352 and Allegri isn’t changing that this season, especially since that formation works for what he wants.
I’d like Pellegrino, but I doubt Parma let’s him leave in January and if they do, it would be on inflated fee.
Milan should go for the striker they will play against today, Duvan Zapata. He only has 6 months on his contract, he isn’t a 1st choice anymore, and can bring that physicality, height, box presence that Milan misses. Also he is very good in the build up. Knows the league inside and out.
Not many if any better options out there that can come in the middle of the season and contribute.
He didn’t forgot Matri. He was never any use to anyone. To think Milan financed Tevez to Juve by buying that useless POS.
*forget
Well, He is the one that asked for Matri at Milan and Matri was of use to Allegri at Cagliari.
Matri 4 seasons before coming to Milan, 13 goals, 20 goals, 10 goals, 8 goals.
Useless? Hardly.
And Juventus bought Tevez for 9 mil 2 months before they sold Matri to Milan. Juventus didn’t need Milan money to buy Tevez. Tevez was not coming to Milan in 2013.
Utterly useless in Milan. Kind of like Origi 0.5