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AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri refused to comment on the Jean-Philippe Mateta pursuit, and gave an update on the injury situation.
Milan resume Serie A action as they take on Bologna at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara and they are under pressure to win again, with Napoli, Juventus and Inter all having already picked up three points in the current round.
To make matters even more difficult, there is a new wave of physical problems. Alexis Saelemaekers will be out, Christian Pulisic’s availability is yet to be determined, and Rafael Leao is gritting his teeth as usual due to his groin pain.
Allegri’s pre-Bologna presser
Allegri spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello on deadline day to answer questions on the transfer plans and the difficult trip to Emilia, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
Maignan’s contract renewal has arrived. Are you satisfied?
“I’m very happy because Milan has secured one of the three best goalkeepers in Europe. He’s very happy, he’s always said he wanted to stay, and the club did a good job of ensuring Mike stayed at Milan. Now let’s focus on tomorrow.”
What can you tell us about Mateta?
“On Mateta, as I’ve always said, I’m only talking about Milan players. Out of respect, it’s not fair to talk about players from other teams.”
Can you give us an injury bulletin?
“Saelemaekers won’t be there, this adductor issue is still bothering him. He made himself available in Rome but had a minor injury. Pulisic has this bursitis that’s bothering him. If he’s better today, we’ll bring him.
“Leao, who’s managing his adductor-pubis situation, will be there. The others are all alive, so we’ll take them to Bologna.”
What approach will you take?
“Everything depends on what happens on the pitch tomorrow. Bologna are coming off a good win in the Europa League but has only won once in its last 10 games.
“We’ll face a team that wants to beat Milan and will want to prove that these negative results are a coincidence. We need a very serious match.”
How did you convince Maignan? Will you convince Modric too?
“I didn’t convince Maignan at all. The credit, as it should be because they’ve worked hard and they decide on contracts, goes to the club. After Maignan stayed in the summer, I was confident he could continue at Milan.
“Maignan is a very sensitive guy, I knew he wanted to stay. All that was needed was to get over that misunderstanding in the summer… And then he saved. And he is saving things (smiles). We’ll see about Modric, Luka is the one who will decide whether he wants to continue or not.”
Will there be some more business before the Bologna game?
“Today is the last day of the transfer window. We were lucky to have these two games, tomorrow and in 10 days. We’ll have time to fully recover Pulisic, Leao, Fullkrug; that finger will heal sooner or later. We’re getting closer to Gimenez’s return, which will be useful for the end of the season.
“I’m happy with the players I have available. We’ve done good things so far, but they’re not enough for the final objective: Juventus are getting closer, Roma are close, Como are close. I don’t think Inter will have any problems, so there are five teams for three spots.
“Seasons are different. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that what we’ve worked hard to achieve over the past few months shouldn’t be thrown away in a short time. What’s done remains, and tomorrow must be earned.
“Tomorrow is the penultimate away game of the six we’ve had in recent months. One last small step tomorrow, and then in 10 days we’ll have the players with some aches and pains back.”
Is the calendar the same for everyone?
“It goes without saying. This is the schedule. They tell us to play tomorrow, and we play tomorrow. We knew about the Olympics issue – it’s an opportunity to recover players. We try to look at the positive side, not always the negative.”
Now is the crucial stage of the season, with others in European action…
“I repeat. I, and the entire club, are disappointed not to be playing in the Champions League. We’re working hard to play in that competition. If you want to be at the highest levels, you have to play at the highest levels and in the Champions League.
“In fact, we hope to be playing in the Club World Cup in two years. I’ve read a lot of controversy. We’re not the ones who have to find solutions. There are competent people who have to find solutions for the good of football.”
But could it be a favourable month for you?
“I spent five years at Juventus. Juve won five league titles, four Italian Cups, and reached two Champions League finals, and we played the same games as those who don’t play, yet we were top of the table.
“I hope I’ll have these problems next year, if you can call them problems. Then, with the Champions League, you have to build a certain type of squad, but those are different problems.”
Should the bar be raised now?
“Let’s just say we need to improve on some moments of the match, like what happened in Rome: after 15 seconds there, we almost conceded a goal. We struggled, thanks to Roma’s merits, but also to our own shortcomings.
“Their strength is their ability to jump on us and steal the ball. We need to improve on that, as well as on many other things, without ever losing sight of the final result, which should lead us to our goal.”
Is the winter transfer market in Italy quite depressing, compared to the money other leagues can spend?
“I don’t think it’s something you’re just discovering today… Just look at the turnover of English teams, there are five English teams in the top eight of the Champions League. Over the last 15 years, the four semi-finalists have almost always been the top four in terms of turnover, with a few exceptions.
“In Italy, we shouldn’t always feel sorry for ourselves. Serie A is a wonderful league; the players learn a lot. With our characteristics, we always manage to put on a good show. This is the current state of European football.”
Are Milan inferior to Inter? Chivu says Inter are always under scrutiny…
“I’m not saying Milan are inferior to Inter. I’m answering Chivu: they’re top of the table and have a chance of winning. In recent years, they’ve almost never finished outside the top two.
“Chivu is doing a fantastic job. He coached for two months at Parma, managing a fantastic [avoidance of] relegation, and now he’s doing very well at Inter.”
Inter win games against the lesser sides comfortably, while Milan do not. Why?
“These are player characteristics. We have excellent players, but with different characteristics than Inter’s.”
Does the business of rivals raise the level of competition?
“When you get to this point in the season, in February, it’s normal for your attention to rise: the slide towards the end of the season begins. Points matter more, the objectives are there and you try to achieve them, and everyone wants to do it: right now there are five teams competing for three spots.”
Why do you need another striker?
“Fortunately, the transfer window closes tonight. The club is focusing on the transfer market. So far, Fullkrug has arrived here, and I’m very happy. We think the next signings could be Gimenez, and especially Leao and Pulisic, who we hope to get back on track in the next 10 days.
“We need to focus on who we have. The players are doing well, and above all, we need to keep going, which is the hardest thing.”
What kind of match will it be against Bologna?
“Tomorrow’s a very tough game. Bologna will jump on you, play, and offer themselves. You have to play well technically and not let them run wild; they’re very good at that.”
How is Nkunku?
“I think he has all the qualities to grow. There are players who arrive, settle in, and do well. And there are those who, in terms of character, need more time to settle in. He’s already scored some goals, and we’re happy, but, like everyone, he can always improve.”
Are there similarities with your last season at Juventus?
“There’s always something to learn from everything. That situation, when I reached the end, made me ask myself some questions. This year, we’ll try to work to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
“Why did it happen? It’s not easy. Everything sounds easy in words. Then there are different situations, you have to try to understand them and then perhaps even approach them differently.”
Tomorrow Athekame or Loftus-Cheek?
“One of the two will play in that position. Athekame has improved a lot, he’s settled in. I have full confidence in him, if he plays. Otherwise, Loftus will play on the wing.”
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