1 hour ago
27
Strahinja Pavlovic has revealed what Massimiliano Allegri told him after AC Milan lost to Cremonese in the first league game of the season.
Allegri joined Milan in the summer as the new manager, replacing the outgoing Sergio Conceicao who last just six months, just as his compatriot and predecessor Paulo Fonseca did. The Rossoneri were desperately seeking some stability, and so far the defence has been the bedrock of an upturn in form.
Pavlovic is celebrating reaching 50 caps for the Serbian national team, and in an interview with their official channels he was asked what it has been like working under a new coach at club level, namely Allegri.
“I was very disappointed after the opening defeat against Cremonese. I felt like this could be a great season, and then you lose the first one at home, conceding two goals from two half-chances… I was feeling down.
“The next day I met him and he told me to relax, that it was only the beginning. I replied: ‘Yes, but we can’t concede two goals like that.’ And he said: ‘Don’t worry, you’re 24, you’re still young for a defender, everything will be fine.’
“He has an excellent approach with the players, he speaks often with everyone in the dressing room, he’s a very positive person. That’s another of his great strengths.”
Pavlovic scored the only goal for Milan in that particular game, equalising from a corner after Baschirotto had opened the scoring for Cremonese. The newly-promoted side would go on to win 2-1 though, thanks to Bonazzoli’s acrobatic winner.
English (US) ·