ALLEGRI: "LAZIO ARE STRONG AND WELL-COACHED, IT WILL BE TOUGH" | OneFootball

Following their derby victory, the Rossoneri are hoping to end November on a high. The month concludes much like it began: against a club from the capital. After Rome, matchday 13 sees AC Milan host Lazio at 20:45 CET on Saturday. Today, head coach Massimiliano Allegri gave his usual pre-match press conference.

FROM THE DERBY TO LAZIO “The Derby victory was wonderful, but that’s behind us now – it’s Thursday, and in 48 hours we play again. This is another match that could help us move closer to our goal. Saturday will be very challenging: Lazio, in the last ten years, have won trophies and played in the Champions League. They are a strong, well-coached team. Sarri is doing an excellent job with a very organized side that seems to concede space but actually concedes very little. They will be looking to re-enter the Champions League qualification spots too.”

INJURY UPDATE “Pulisic is unlikely to play, although there are still two days until the match and anything can happen. Gimenez should slowly return to team training next week. Alexis, on the other hand, has recovered; in the Derby on Sunday, he delivered his best performance of the year. He made an impact both technically and tactically. He has room for individual growth, is very generous, and continues to try to find the right balance.”

RAFAEL LEÃO’S TRANSFORMATION “Leão has the qualities to play as a centre-forward: he can protect the ball and is very strong in the air inside the box. He still needs to get used to attacking the penalty area more; he is evolving and is now more involved in the game, putting himself at the service of the team, even doing the less glamorous work. Great players distinguish themselves when they put their qualities at the service of the team.”

CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU’S CONDITION “Nkunku arrived at the end of the transfer window and was called up for the next two international breaks. That was positive, positive since he hadn’t been called up for a while, but he comes from a different league and needed to train. I expect him to perform at his maximum potential because he is a strong player. I’m very confident.”

MIKE MAIGNAN’S FORM “Mike has always been among the top goalkeepers around, so his performances don’t surprise me. I’m happy; he looks calm and is showing his qualities on the pitch. On the contractual side, the club is working to give the team stability and a future.”

JASHARI AND THE MIDFIELD “Ardon is returning to the squad. He has recovered but lacks match minutes. He has great character and desire. He had already been sidelined before the injury, so he hasn’t played a match in three and a half months. He can operate as a defensive midfielder or in a double pivot, depending on how the midfield is set up. So far, Fofana, Modrić, and Rabiot have played more, as well as Ricci. Samuele is an important player because whenever you call on him, he’s ready, physically and mentally. For us, he is an added value. Then there’s Loftus-Cheek, who has played less so far but has huge potential. He is serious, professional, and reliable.”

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