Ricci: Allegri the best in one thing, there’s something you can’t ‘steal’ from Modric

Milan midfielder Samuele Ricci says Massimiliano Allegri is the ‘number one in managing the group’ and is delighted to play alongside Luka Modric: ‘His football IQ is impressive; he always knows where the ball is going to land.’

Ricci joined Milan from Torino last summer, and on Monday, he’ll meet his former club again as Milan will visit the Granata in Serie A Round 14.

“That’s difficult. It will surely feel strange to step back on the Grande Torino pitch,” Ricci told Tuttosport (via Milan News).

“I grew so much there, I met amazing people, and I also left a lot of friends behind.”

Ricci hasn’t been a regular starter at San Siro this season, but has already collected 712 minutes on the pitch across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

The 24-year-old feels he’s developing under Milan coach Allegri: “We all know what he’s won in his career. Plus, off the pitch, Allegri gives you great calm, and I think he’s the number one in managing the group. On top of that, he has a very competent staff behind him,” he said.

The Italian midfielder has been playing as a Regista, but also as a Mezzalata [box-to-box] this season: “He [Allegri] started trying me out there in training, but we often play with two midfielders anyway,” said Ricci.

“It doesn’t change much because he asks us to do everything to adapt to different solutions.”

Milan are the Serie A table leaders, joint on 28 points with Napoli, but Allegri still doesn’t mention the Scudetto as a possible target this season.

“No, right now the focus has to be on finding consistency,” said Ricci.

“Then getting back into the Champions League, where Milan belong, and then we’ll see…”

The former Torino star went on to describe Modric, another Milan summer signing, as “Out of this world.”

“He’s a phenomenon because he does things others can’t do and sees things others don’t see,” Ricci added.

“You can steal a lot from him, but only to a point, because there’s that limitless talent that makes him unique; otherwise, it’d be too easy. In that sense, his football IQ is impressive: he always knows where the ball is going to land.”