Allegri names qualities he wants to see from Milan in Pisa and explains attacking choices

AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has highlighted what his side must do to emerge from Pisa with three precious points.

Milan take to the field in Tuscany tonight 10 days after the last time they played, the 3-0 win away against Bologna. The Milan-Como fixture – scheduled for last weekend – has been moved to next week due to the Winter Olympics being at San Siro.

Against Pisa the Rossoneri will face a team that have not won in their last 13 games, and have been victorious only once this season. However, they are draw specialists with a new man in charge – Oscar Hiljemark – while they drew the return game 2-2, so this is a potential banana skin.

Allegri has chosen to make one change to the starting line-up from the team that won in Bologna, with Fikayo Tomori coming in for Koni De Winter. He spoke to DAZN about half an hour before kick-off in Pisa, with MilanNews relaying what he had to say.

Do you want to get to the derby with a five-point gap?

“I think there’s very little we can do. We just need to get as many points as possible, first and foremost for our objective, which is the Champions League. And then we’ll see. Inter are currently on a run of endless victories. In 24 games, I think they’ve won 19, drawn 4, and lost 1.

“They’re a team that’s moving quickly. We mustn’t lose sight of our objective. Tonight is a difficult, complicated match. Pisa have always fought. They have a new coach, and that will be a motivation for everyone. We’ll have to play a serious and respectable match.”

What do you need today?

“We have to play very well technically with very high passing accuracy. They’re a physical team that comes at you. We’ll have to be very good in space. Then we’ll have to defend well against crosses.

“They have players who occupy the penalty area very well. In Verona, they had a favourable situation in the final minutes, so matches have to be won on the pitch; that’s the only thing that matters.”

Pulisic, Leao and Fullkrug are on the bench. Do Nkunku and Loftus-Cheek offer more guarantees?

“We’ll see if they’re better and more reliable after the game (laughs). Leao is much better, I was hesitant until the end whether to play him or not. Pulisic trained yesterday, he’ll get 15-20 minutes.

“Fullkrug is fine, Jashari is there… We have a good bench, so far those who have come off the bench have always done well.”