Allegri on Ibrahimovic Milan row: ‘I’ve had much worse discussions’ | OneFootball

Max Allegri did not deny a furious argument with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, nor that missing Champions League football would be a failure for Milan. ‘I’ve had much worse discussions than this.’

The trip to Genoa kicks off at Marassi on Sunday at 11.00 UK time (12.00 CEST).

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Rossoneri have been in a training retreat since Thursday to prepare for the match, which was only given a final kick-off date and time on Thursday evening.

They slipped down to fourth place after just seven points from eight Serie A rounds and the pressure is on.

Allegri dealing with Milan tension

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 11: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Udinese Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“It’s natural that there is disappointment and we are the first to feel that,” said Allegri in his press conference.

“I knew it would be difficult to secure a Champions League place, but we’ve good a good chance tomorrow against a team that is doing well. We require organisation, patience, and then we’ll see. The lads worked well and also had the opportunity to rest in these three days.”

Even when challenging for top spot with Inter, Allegri had said that merely being in the first four teams was the real objective.

Now Milan patron Gerry Cardinale admits anything less than Champions League football would represent a failure.

“It’s normal at Milan that you must be ambitious to aim for the maximum result,” responded the coach.

“I always say the result you get at the end of a long season is what you ultimately deserve. You can then analyse various problems and mistakes, but at this moment we need to be concentrated on tomorrow’s match.

“I was pleased with Cardinale’s words, I spoke to him recently and gave him my point of view of this season and the future of Milan, which is what everyone is really interested in. Milan are first and foremost, the club is above everyone and everything. The rest of us are just passing through.”

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Focus on Genoa is going to be tricky, because the headlines are all about the tension behind the scenes at Milan, where CEO Giorgio Furlani is the subject of a protest from fans, and there are reports Allegri had a blazing row with special advisor Ibrahimovic.

“I am accustomed to always having a professional rapport, and dealing professionally with all the directors and owners,” replied Allegri when asked if he had argued with Ibrahimovic.

“Within meetings, not just this year, there have always been moments of confronting ideas where you could agree or not agree. But today we must focus all our energy on tomorrow’s game.”

VERONA, ITALY – MARCH 17: Giorgio Furlani CEO of AC Milan interacts with Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the Serie A TIM match between Hellas Verona FC and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on March 17, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It has been suggested that the split has Ibrahimovic and Furlani on one side, Allegri and director of sport Igli Tare on the other.

“Look, there are always going to be discussions within a company, one sees things in shades of white, another black, another red, but the important thing is that everyone works in the interests of that company.

“I’ve had much worse discussions than this, but the fundamental thing is that we all work in the same direction. Talk is cheap, but at the end of the season, are we in the Champions League or Europa League? Then the club will make its evaluations. It would’ve been better to know a month ago, but instead we’ll have to wait until May 25.

“We’ve got Tare as director of sport, he has done a good job, we immediately got in sync. He is professional, well-prepared. All these attacks that are against him… When you reach the end of a season, the responsibility is shared by everyone.”

VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Igli Tare, Sporting Director of AC Milan looks on prior to the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 19, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan are all suspended, but Luka Modric is surprisingly in the squad after training with a protective mask, just three weeks after surgery on a fractured cheekbone.

“Samuele Ricci sprained his ankle, he’s still coming with us and we’ll see how he is tomorrow. At this moment, the team mustn’t let itself be swept up in haste or anxiety. We need organisation, determination, and the conviction we can get the result.

“We’ll see at the end of the season if we did well or if the others were better. Football is like that, it can all be overturned in a moment. On March 8 everyone was talking about the Scudetto after the derby, now we have wasted our advantage over fifth place. That means something went wrong.

“We made mistakes in the last six weeks, but never lacked the professional effort in every game. We’ve worked to put in a good performance tomorrow, but it won’t be easy to get the result,” added Allegri.