ALLEGRI: “A MATCH TO BE PLAYED WITH RESPECT” | OneFootball

A few days after our victory against Fiorentina, we welcome our Rossoneri fans back to San Siro: in Friday's fixture, we take on a newly promoted Pisa, at 20:45 CEST. Today, the day before the match, Coach Allegri spoke as usual at the press conference. His words were broadcast on the AC Milan Official App and Milan TV from 12:00 CEST.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATCH “Tomorrow will be a tough game because Pisa have played well so far – they fight, create chances, and score goals. They’re a physical team, and if we don’t approach it the right way, they can cause us problems. We already lost to one newly promoted side this season; we need to do better against the second. Winning won’t be easy, but it would be a big step forward in the table and towards our goal of qualifying for the Champions League. To get there, we’ll need at least 74 points. Pisa will come to Milan looking for a result. Gilardino is excellent at organizing his team defensively, so scoring won’t be easy. We must control the defensive phase well. There are no easy games – we need to play this one with great respect.”

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS “I don’t know if we’re ahead of expectations, but we’re working hard every day. I’ve inherited strong players, and the club made good signings, but it’s still only Matchday 7. We must approach every game with respect – Pisa have players who can hurt you when they find space.”

FACING PISA AS A LIVORNESE “I spent a season there in 1988–89 and made my debut against Milan. I remember President Romeo Anconetani with great affection – it’s been almost 40 years, and he was a visionary even back then. I’d be curious to see how he’d fit in today’s football. It was an important experience for me, playing in Pisa as someone from Livorno.”

FIXTURES, TABLE AND FANS “We need to stay calm. Win, enjoy it briefly, and then focus on the next match. We have a short run of games before the next international break. October and November are key months, just as January and February will be. The goal is to be in the right position by March to fight for a top-four finish. It’s right that the fans dream, but we have to stay grounded and keep working. They gave us a huge boost against Fiorentina, and we’ll need them again tomorrow. Enthusiasm must be balanced with responsibility.”

DEFENCE “De Winter might get a chance tomorrow. Pavlovic is improving: he’s played quite a bit for Milan already but still has room to grow defensively and in his timing. He’s working hard every day to do that. Bartesaghi came through our youth academy. He’s physically and tactically strong, so he has the right profile to play for Milan.”

INDIVIDUALS “Nkunku is back, and we’ll assess Loftus-Cheek today. I’m not trying to ‘transform’ Leão – he can play down the middle as a striker, or more widely alongside other forwards. The more central he is, the more he can shoot, but he can also drift left to take on players one-on-one. Giménez has trained well this week, looks relaxed, and is in good shape – the goals will come. Modrić? He rarely misplaces a pass because he’s a champion: his speed of thought, passing and vision are on another level, and he really enjoys playing in that role.”

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT “At Torino, after a good performance, we weren’t positioned properly for the closing stage of the match, and it was the same thing against Fiorentina, though Ricci and Bartesaghi did very well. In those moments, you have to stay sharp: late in a match, one mistake can cost you. You don’t have time to recover, so every touch can define a season. We must raise our focus and conviction in those situations.”

GETTING INTO THE PLAYERS’ MINDSET “Fortunately, we have a group that works hard and shares one clear goal: to have a great season and build the foundation to reach the Champions League, where Milan belongs. We need responsibility, passion, and belief. I’m happy with this group – they’re talented, responsible players. The younger ones are improving thanks to the experience of leaders like Tomori, Rabiot, Modrić, and Maignan, who set the standard for everyone.”

SECOND-HALF GOALS “We’ve been more intense in second halves, which means we’re in good shape – that’s a positive sign. The players coming off the bench have made an impact, and they must keep doing so, because a season isn’t won with just 11 players, but with 22. The final half-hour is always a different game: whoever plays best in that stretch is often decisive.”

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