Sacchi sees Allegri’s improvement but warns Milan about Parma

Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi feels Massimiliano Allegri has a better playing style than in the past but warns the Rossoneri about Parma: ‘Not a walk in the park.’

Milan visit Parma at the Stadio Tardini this evening, and a win would allow the Rossoneri to climb to the top of the table, waiting for Roma, Inter and Napoli games tomorrow.

“If one wants to build something important, one has to seize an opportunity immediately,” Sacchi wrote in his latest column for Gazzetta dello Sport.

“With a victory in Parma, Milan have a chance to leap to the top of the standings, waiting to see what the current leaders will do.

“The Rossoneri, who are improving match after match, could seriously establish themselves as title contenders. Indeed, it’s still early to define the hierarchy, but it’s equally true that, so far, Serie A doesn’t have a clear dominant team. Allegri’s side has a chance and must not waste it.”

Parma have lost the last two games and collected just two points in the last five matches. Milan, on the other hand, have been unbeaten in the last nine Serie A outings but Sacchi feels that this evening’s meeting at the Tardini should not be taken lightly.

“Milan must not approach the game at the Tardini as if it were a walk in the park,” continued the ex-coach.

“The games against Cremonese and Pisa should serve as a warning: only one point collected, despite the Rossoneri playing at San Siro. This shows that the team hasn’t yet reached perfection. If such things even exist, that’s fair enough since Allegri has only been in charge for four months, and it takes time to design and build a project.”

Sacchi had been highly critical of Allegri’s playing style in the past, especially during the Tuscan’s second spell at Juventus, but the ex-Azzurri coach has seen an improvement.

“It seems to me that Allegri is in full harmony with the whole group, and I’m also appreciating the quality of their play, which, in my opinion, is aesthetically superior to that of the last team coached by the Tuscan coach,” Sacchi concluded.

This evening, Allegri will pick Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku in attack. Christian Pulisic returns to action after an injury, but will start on the bench.