Allegri reveals where AC Milan must improve despite derby win: ‘No coincidence’

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri feels it’s ‘no coincidence’ that the Rossoneri have dropped points against teams in the bottom half of the table: ‘We need to keep improving.’

The Rossoneri secured a 1-0 win over Inter on Sunday, overtaking their city rivals in the table and climbing to second place, one point below leaders Roma.

I thanked them because they gave us a wonderful evening, giving the club and the fans a derby win.

Allegri examined the game at a post-match press conference attended by Football Italia after his interview with DAZN.

“We resume training on Tuesday, and then we have the match against Lazio,” Allegri told reporters.

“We need to perform well so we don’t squander this victory. We have to improve in many things. In the first 15 minutes, we were too timid. We had to be better in three or four situations and open up the play towards Saelemaekers because Dimarco was positioned high on the pitch.

“When you are in a big club, you need desire and ambition to do your best,” Allegri continued.

“Seven matches are remaining before the end of the first half of the season. We need to keep getting results and improving. We slip in some games, like against Pisa, Parma and Cremonese. It’s no coincidence that in bit matches, you stay attached to the game.

“We need to improve by respecting the smaller teams, knowing that a single incident, like in Parma, can overturn a game. When you get back on the pitch, you can’t concede four goal chances from a throw-in.”

Milan defended resolutely after taking the lead with Christian Pulisic at the beginning of the second half, and Allegri was delighted by his players’ attitude.

“When you defend, you must be aggressive on every ball and make it difficult for the opponents to create chances,” he said.

“When you don’t have the ball, the others decide, so you have to defend well.”

Allegri had won his first-ever derby in charge of Milan in 2010. Ironically, that was also a 1-0 win on Matchday 12.

“They told me after the match. These things are coincidental; tonight, besides winning the derby, we remained in the top four,” noted Allegri.

“Being five points below the top spot wouldn’t have been much, but we could have suffered a blow, so the boys did really well.”

The Rossoneri are unbeaten in 11 league games, having only lost the opening Serie A match of the season against Cremonese.

Their next game against Lazio is at home on Saturday, November 29.