Massimiliano Allegri sees the derby as a chance to end Inter’s Scudetto hopes, reveals what really happened with Alexandre Pato and proposes the trident attack.
Massimiliano Allegri sees the derby as a chance to end Inter’s Scudetto hopes, reveals what really happened with Alexandre Pato and proposes the trident attack.
It has been a chaotic few days for Milan, who on Thursday abandoned negotiations with Carlos Tevez after Pato turned down a €35m move to Paris Saint-Germain.
“This week has been rather eventful,” confessed the Coach who also signed a contract extension to June 2014.
“We continued our work in a relaxed manner despite the many reports swirling round the team. I never said that I wanted to sell Pato. It was simply a transfer operation to replace Antonio Cassano. It’s also not true that I have a cold rapport with Pato. With him and the other players I have a perfectly professional relationship.
“It is only normal that he’ll be on the bench sometimes, as everyone is. It’s impossible to play every single game and nobody ever doubted his quality. Will Tevez arrive anyway? I don’t know, I’m just focused on the derby. As for my contract, that was never a problem, it was just an issue of timing.”
Allegri has won all the Milan derbies since coming to San Siro and hopes to continue that record against a revived Inter coming off five consecutive victories.
“I think after the change of management from Gian Piero Gasperini to Claudio Ranieri that Inter changed their style of football. They are in good shape and have found a balance to their team.
“The derby is always a tense affair and one that requires great concentration. We are not too far away from them in the table, so must try to win at all costs. After all, a victory would mean cutting down their chances of fighting for the Scudetto, so it is an important crossroads.”
Alberto Aquilani is out for a month and Gennaro Gattuso suffered a relapse of his eye condition, so Allegri must again reshuffle the midfield.
“Kevin-Prince Boateng did well there against Atalanta, while Urby Emanuelson is an option for the trequartista role. In fact, I could also field Pato, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic together.”