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Massimiliano Allegri took part in his first pre-match press conference on Monday out in Singapore, where AC Milan will face Arsenal.
Allegri is on tour preparing to face the Premier League side and welcome reinforcements from the mercato. As part of the media commitments, he spoke alongside Fikayo Tomori at a presser that took place two days before the game. His comments were relayed by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
What do you plan to do differently compared to your first spell?
“These situations are different than 15 years ago. We’ve only been here 20 days, and the team is working well.”
How important will Luka Modric be?
Modric will be important to us; he’s a champion and will raise the technical level. The goal is to return to playing in the Champions League, which isn’t easy because there are very well-equipped and competitive teams.”
Is it better or worse not to have European competition in order to be competitive in the league?
“The positive aspect is that by playing once a week, you have more time to work, assimilate concepts, and become more of a team.
“The negative aspect is that by not playing in the Champions League, you don’t play the big games everyone would like to play. I look at the glass half full: we need to work hard so that Milan can return to the Champions League next year.
“I’ve come back here with enthusiasm and desire. I’m focused on the ultimate goal, which is to qualify for the 2026-27 Champions League, which is crucial for the brand and for the club financially.”
You are without two full-backs, a midfielder, and a striker…
“There’s total synergy with the transfer market, and the club is working to ensure the team is competitive for all three objectives by August 31st.”
What can you say about the first two weeks of training and the work done?
“More on the psychological aspect after last season or more on the pitch? I’ve gotten to know the team, which is made up of excellent players. We shouldn’t look back at last season, but forward.
“For better or for worse. Because even when you’ve won and are starting over, you can’t think about the titles you’ve won. It’s of no use for the future. And now what happened last year is no longer needed.
“We’ve started the new season, and I’m confident because I have a group with strong technical and moral values. We’ll be ready to play our first competitive match on August 17th. It’s important to work on the pitch. At the start, we’re a group, but we need to become a team quickly.”
As a reminder, the Arsenal game is scheduled for 13:30 Italy time on Wednesday, while the Liverpool game that follows will also kick off at 13:30 but on Saturday. The head coach has named a 26-man squad for these friendlies, as well as the friendly against Perth Glory on July 31.
The two games should bring huge crowds, given how Milan’s fan base in the region is, plus that of Arsenal of course. It will be a way to gear up preparations in view of the season starting in under a month.
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