Milan, Allegri before Pisa: No talk of escape, stay grounded | OneFootball

The Rossoneri coach on the eve of the San Siro clash: “Maturity will be needed. Better to play in Italy than in Perth”

Milan, Allegri on the eve with Pisa: “Let's not talk about running away, let's keep our feet on the ground”

On the eve of Milan-Pisa, the opening match of the eighth day of Serie A, Massimiliano Allegri urges everyone to stay calm. After overtaking Napoli and Roma at the top, with Inter just one point behind, the Rossoneri coach wants to maintain focus and composure: “We shouldn't look at anyone, we can't talk about running away. Our goal is to work silently and improve, then we'll see in March.”

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Focus on the match with Pisa

Milan, first in the standings, hosts a determined Pisa aiming for a result. Allegri acknowledges the danger of the opponent coached by Gilardino: “The right mentality will be needed against a tough team coming to San Siro to score points. The three points are crucial to maintain continuity in results.”

On the injury front, good news arrives: Nkunku returns to the bench, while Loftus-Cheek will be evaluated in the final hours. Possible starting position for De Winter.

“No running away, we only think about ourselves”

When asked about a possible lead in the standings, Allegri is clear: “There are no runaways. We need to stay calm, keep our feet on the ground, and think game by game. The season is long and every mistake can be costly.”

On the importance of the season's moment, he adds: “Winning is never easy. We must only think about our goal: returning to the Champions League. I believe at least 74 points are needed to achieve it.”

Maturity, balance, and group growth

Allegri emphasizes the importance of mentality: “I found a serious and responsible working group. The guys have understood the importance of sacrifice. Our goal is to be ready in March to play for everything.”

On the growth path, he adds: “We need to improve in the details, especially in the final stages of the game where fatigue can be costly. Every ball can decide a season.”

On Leao, Gimenez, and tactical choices

The Rossoneri coach also focused on offensive choices and the use of Leao in the new system: “Leao scored by moving in the central area. I don't want to transform him, he can play both the first and second striker. It's important that he stays in the heart of the game and exploits his offensive freedom.”

On Gimenez, after the criticisms: “He has trained well. He is growing and more serene, the goal will come. He has quality and is integrating into the group.”

Modric, Pavlovic, and the young players

Allegri praised the veteran Croatian: “Modric makes very few mistakes. He is a champion, sees the game before others, and enjoys the role he is playing.”

On Pavlovic and De Winter: “Pavlovic is growing a lot, he is only 23 years old and has great room for improvement. De Winter? He might start.”

Great attention also to the youth from the academy: “Bartesaghi has important qualities, but he must remain calm and continue to work. He is a boy who can grow a lot.”

The Milan-Como theme and the trip to Perth

On the possibility of playing Milan-Como in Australia, Allegri commented with balance: “My opinion counts little. The important thing is that the decision is made quickly. Personally, I would prefer to stay in Italy, but if we have to go to Perth, we will organize ourselves.”

Refereeing, VAR, and new football

Regarding the refereeing controversies following the match against Fiorentina, Allegri urged calm: “These are situations that are part of football. With the current speed of the game, it's difficult to decide on the field, which is why VAR is a useful tool. Football has changed, we need to adapt.”

Milan-Pisa: a challenge of maturity too

Finally, on the maturity of the group: “I don't know if we are mature, but we have to prove it. Pisa will come to San Siro to get a result and respect will be needed. Matches are won with intensity, sacrifice, and concentration.”

And on performance in the second half: “In the second half we grow in intensity, a sign that we are physically well. Even those who come off the bench make a difference. The last half hour is always another game.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.