MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI is calling for calm and focus ahead of Milan’s game against Napoli.
Milan have not managed to beat a top team in Serie A yet, and the Rossoneri’s Scudetto ambitions took a hit on Wednesday as they lost to Lazio at Stadio Olimpico and are can be -4 from league leaders Juventus.
il Diavolo’s latest performances have been underwhelming – even when they finished on the winning side – but Coach Massimiliano Allegri believes Milan will bounce back and says they’ve been through worse.
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“In the five games played, we played them well and except for the match in Bergamo [against Atalanta], we won them all quite easily. In the two games we lost we paid a high price for the mistakes made,” Boss Allegri said. “Necessity is the mother of invention and we’ll try and play a big game to get back winning.
“I’m not worried about the criticism. It’s normal that when a team loses, the first man in the cross hairs is the coach, but we’ve been through worse moments. We’ve a few absences that don’t allow me to change the team from game to game but we have players who know how to play well when they’re called upon. I’m satisfied with how we’re doing; in football everyone has an opinion and they can change from day to day.
“A team doesn’t become bad after one loss. We need balance now that we’re coming from a loss but we need that even if we had won 10 in a row. I believe that I’m can get the best out of this team’s characteristics from the players I have available. The team is used to playing like this, the only change is a trequartista.
“We have to stay calm and anyway, there’s no reason to be alarmed. There’s still a lot of points up for grabs. We need to understand our mistakes and learn from them. We’re a team that fighting on all fronts and that makes me happy. We don’t have any problems but we definitely need to improve, as always; this is a team that has potential to do better. Maybe we weren’t competitive enough in the last few games.
“It seems to me that the important thing is not the number of points we have but our position in the table on 13 May, whether we ahead of or behind Juventus. The head to head will be big but what counts is the end result. This year we’ve picked up more points against the small teams and less against the big, last year it was the opposite. We have to take it one game at a time,” concluded the 44-year-old Rossoneri coach.
February 4th, 2012 on 9:38 pm
U know one thing i love abot alegri, is dat he is highly motivated yet calm. He has an exceptional way of handling d press and knows how do deal wit pressure. 2 me he is betta dan our last 3 coches including ancheloti. If dis guy is given d right materials, he would take milan to greater heights. He jst need to work on noticing d faults of d team early so it doesnt cost him. But, friends dnt wory we have a great coach in MAX!!!
February 5th, 2012 on 4:06 pm
@Nathan… I agree 100%. Allegri needs to get the right players. When Ancelotti took over Milan…Milan bought Rui Costa, Pirlo, Seedorf, Nesta, Kaka, Inzaghi, Cafu, Jaap Stam, Gilardino-(who at the time was on fire in the Serie A with Parma. ALL World class players!
Apart from Ibra, Robinho and Cassano-all the other players were average players like Nocerino, Boateng-who only made a name for himself at Milan) Maxi Lopez-who I am not convinced is the right player we needed as Tevez and Montolivo would have been better for us.
Therefore Ancelotti was given 9 world class players whereas Allegri was given 3 world class players.
February 4th, 2012 on 9:54 pm
He knows how to give Press Conferences.
February 4th, 2012 on 9:55 pm
I hope we bounce back and lip frog over juve,go as far as semis in cl bt to b candidi dis team is looking shaky some how.all d best
February 4th, 2012 on 10:07 pm
You are a good coach, but stop playing ambro and Mvb together.
February 4th, 2012 on 10:22 pm
I agree he does handle press very well but what i don’t seem to understand about him is why does he make thesame mistake often, i mean he does something same way and he expects a different result? That folks baffles me…he must surely transmit, transfer and motivate his team at all times.nothing less than his players bleeding red and black on the pitch is good enough for us. There sholu be no sacred cow no matter whose ox is goad
February 4th, 2012 on 10:24 pm
he always have words to say to the press.. Can’t remember the last time he substituded ibra when he’s not playing well in a match.. Even messi and c. Ronaldo get substistuded @ times.. So milan coach should do the same wen ibra is playing bad.
February 4th, 2012 on 10:29 pm
well played allegri….
even i was doubting his coaching skills in big games(still not convinced that he is a good CUP MNGR) but i’ll hv to chek his stats against the biggies once again..
“This year we’ve picked up more points against the small teams and less against the big, last year it was the opposite.”
n am i the only1 thinking we shud not renew ibras contract??
February 4th, 2012 on 11:13 pm
I blame Galiani more than I blame Allegri for our failures. Galiani will rather wait till june to bring in Monty rather than spen 5m to bring him in january. I wonder what he was thinking when signing Muntari.
February 5th, 2012 on 1:29 am
Stop using 2 holding midfielders Mr. Forza milan
February 5th, 2012 on 1:38 am
Forza Allegri. U d boss. Milan can have or hope 4 no better coach than Mr Allegri. With fëw classy signing he will make milan great again.
February 5th, 2012 on 10:31 am
They give him average players and expect him to defeat every team in the world……not possible
February 5th, 2012 on 11:49 am
Hey guyz its all over we arent wining any silver ware dis season so let focus on maintaining our position til next season wen all dis rubishcore players we get have already left.
February 5th, 2012 on 12:00 pm
Its not Allegri who is good at handling the press, The press is being kind to Allegri .If i were in the press meet one question I would ask is “Even while Ibra is having a bad day and performing below par” you still play him for 90+ minutes.And you have never tried a formation without Ibra in the front line.Guess Allegri would say Ibra is the best player in the world next to Messi & Milan is the greatest club in the world only next to Barca!!!!!
February 5th, 2012 on 4:16 pm
I cannot recall a time when Ancelotti substituted Kaka or Sheva when they were playing badly. Ibra can be playing bad for 90mins and do something briliant in the 91st minute.
Who on our bench was good enough to replace Ibra in the Lazio game if Allegri sub him? Absolutely NO ONE!
Inzaghi was not on the bench and he is not the same as he was a year ago!
February 5th, 2012 on 5:00 pm
Milan is a greater club than Barca. We have won more trohpies! Only Real Madrid have won more UCL trophies than Milan and most Real Madrid UCL titles were in the 50′s whereas Milan trophies were in the 80′s 90′s and 2000. Barca is just going through a great spell that will end soon!
February 5th, 2012 on 6:03 pm
And that’s why KAKA & SHEVA both won champions league with Milan ,Ibra is yet to win even after playing 180 minutes each game for every team.People here have decided that there is no one to replace Ibra and its ok to keep playing him until doom’s day. so If Ibra gets injured or suspended Serie A should be stopped until Ibra recovers from his injuries and suspensions and that break should be called as Ibra’s BREAK.Wise up guys there’s lots to football one needs to learn especially Allegri.