Alexandre Pato has recalled how Max Allegri was the driving force behind the 2010-11 Scudetto win, and how a derby win against Inter changed the course of the season.
During a video interview segment with the club’s official website, the Brazilian reflected on the season that Milan were last crowned champions of Italy.
He was joined by another player from that squad in Mario Yepes and began by highlighting the importance of having a head coach like Allegri.
“The coach made us do tough workouts, he didn’t let us breathe and he asked us more and more. We followed him and the club also supported him in all respects. We managed to win that year because we had the same goal. Allegri brought the desire to win in that Milan,” he said.
The turning point of the season came in the second derby against Inter, a game in which the Rossoneri arrived off the back of a bad defeat in Palermo and Inter were two points behind.
“We had to win that game, otherwise we couldn’t leave the house,” says the 30-year-old laughing.
“We trained hard in that week to forget the defeat from which we came. For the derby I was loaded, and after a while I get the ball between my feet and I score. Already from there I knew that the game would be ours.”
It ended 3-0, with AC Milan taking a breath at the top.
“This scudetto is part of my skin. I arrived at Milan who was only 17 years old and at the time there were idols like Ronaldo and Ancelotti. Then in 2011 came the year of victory with a fantastic team. I would like Milan to come back and win a Scudetto as soon as possible, I wish you with all my heart,” Pato concluded.
