Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri believes that AC Milan are very much still in the fight to win the Scudetto alongside his side and Inter despite the points gap.
Milan have been much improved in the league since Christmas having won all four games against Sassuolo, Empoli, Roma and most recently Udinese, with Bologna the next opponents tomorrow.
Inter and Juventus are seven and six points ahead respectively, with the Nerazzurri having a game in hand, and the issue for Stefano Pioli’s side is that they continue to win and not slip up.
The Italian media seem to think it will be between Inter and Juve for the Scudetto and perhaps rightly so given their consistency, even if Milan will hope to force their way back into the picture.
Allegri spoke on the eve of Juve’s game against Empoli at his pre-match press conference and he was asked about a number of different topics, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.
Jurgen Klopp has announced he is leaving Liverpool…
“For Klopp I learned the news, he knows the reasons and he explained them. He certainly won’t finish his career and will do well elsewhere, he is a great coach as demonstrated by his experience with Dortmund and Liverpool, where he won a lot.”
How do you judge the Scudetto fight?
“It’s not a question of a direct clash, let’s call it Juve-Inter, it’s not a title challenge. Let’s not forget that Milan are the third wheel, they have what it takes to get back into the Scudetto fight and have scored more points than last year and have been through the worst moment and can get back into the fight.
“We have to stay focused on Empoli, we have to get three points tomorrow. Empoli are a tough team and the first year here they won and have quality. Once we play tomorrow we’ll see, but there are still a lot of points up for grabs. The important thing is to stay in balance.”
Who out of Juve and Inter is Sinner and Djokovic?
“It’s difficult to say, let’s say that the calendar goes like this and once you play first and then the others. And anyway it’s beautiful like this. You have to score points to get to the end. To get to the top or get into the top four you have to score points, sooner or later doesn’t matter.
“We have to think about ourselves, we have to keep the bar high and we need mental strength and balance. Scoring points in the second half of the season is not easy.
“I want to congratulate Sinner, who played an extraordinary match and has an important career ahead of him despite a sacred monster like Djokovic who has done wonderful things and it’s always nice to see him play.
“If we are younger in age we would be Sinner and they are Djokovic… But I don’t know that maybe they will take it badly, touchy… (laughs).”
One of the most interesting coaches I’ve ever known. He gives so much respect to opponents from the presser to the field. He’ll praise you all night then the following day let you dominate him on the pitch.. Tho strangely he’ll end up winning the match much more aften than you’d be thinking during game. Mind you ,he’s not winning out of general expectations, he just hardly wins convincingly. I prefer him as an opponent. You’d at least get kind words from him. Thanks Mr Allegri and hopefully at some point you and Inter are overtaken
He is too defensive to my liking but as you said he can grind results against better opponents like when we won against Barcelona 2-0. It’s hard to overtake Inter and Juventus unless we won directly against them
See in my opinion you are the third wheel, and as Guardiola stated after the last City game, “Teason has just started”
Oh wai the crap defencive football you play, makes you the spare wheel.
Whoever here thinks this is respectful towards Milan, think twice. This guy was our manager. BTW i didnt like him when he was managin us, do t like him now and will never like him.
Not dor me sorry