Allegri: ‘AC Milan are vulnerable when we let the intensity drop’

Max Allegri celebrates the AC Milan victory over rivals Inter to leap into second place, but warns they can’t just step up for the big games. ‘When we let the intensity drop, we are vulnerable.’

It was another tough slog for the Rossoneri, who were under pressure for long periods and thanked the woodwork in the first half for keeping out Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martinez.

However, much like in the victory over Roma, they held out and then struck on the counter, with Christian Pulisic finishing off the Alexis Saelemaekers run.

Mike Maignan was decisive too with another crucial penalty save, this time on specialist and former Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

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“It was a great victory, an entertaining match. We started a little tense in the first 15 minutes, but then loosened up and had four or five situations where we could’ve made better choices in the final third, especially when it came to sending Pulisic and Saelemaekers forward,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.

“We needed to be more accurate on the crosses, then in the second half once we scored, it was natural Inter would fight back. We had a few favourable situations with Leao one-on-one, we defended well with preventative marking, which was important against Inter when they can be lethal playing their way out of the first press.”

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This result puts Milan into joint second place alongside Napoli, just two points behind new sole leaders Roma, while Inter are left back in fourth.

The big difference between them has been their record in the big games, where Allegri’s men defeated Bologna, Napoli, Roma and Inter, drawing with Juventus, yet fumbled points against the smaller clubs. Are there regrets?

“I think the points we have are what we deserve, because we could’ve drawn easily with Napoli and Roma, so it all balances out,” insisted Allegri.

“This match confirmed our season since the start, which is when we had to set the tempo, we didn’t always do it, conceding goals against Cremonese, Parma and Pisa. When it’s a top level match, you are more determined, keep plugged in for longer, and so we must understand that when we let the intensity drop, we become vulnerable.

“On a psychological level, this is an important win, as staying in the top four was what we wanted.”

Pulisic made his return to the starting XI after an injury and the pairing with Rafael Leao is starting to come together.

“It worked well tonight, but it had already done so in pre-season in Australia. We need everyone, the fact that we will manage to train all together this week is a boost.”

Allegri has also made history as only the seventh coach to register 100 wins in all competition on the Milan bench, after Carlo Ancelotti, Nereo Rocco, Fabio Capello, Stefano Pioli, Nils Liedholm and Arrigo Sacchi.