Massimiliano Allegri blamed “drops in concentration” for Milan’s 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo and “the club will decide” whether he sees out the season.
Massimiliano Allegri blamed “drops in concentration” for Milan’s 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo and “the club will decide” whether he sees out the season.
“It’s an ugly defeat, a strange one because we were 2-0 up after 13 minutes and it all seemed easy. We conceded three goals, almost all identical, in the first half,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“Sassuolo played good football, but we played badly as a team and as individuals with too many mistakes. You can’t score three goals and then concede four this way. I am curious to watch the game back, as it was so strange. We had prepared on their crosses, but got it wrong defending them anyway.”
Milan have only 22 points from 19 games and reach the halfway stage of the campaign in 11th place.
“It was an important match to get into a better position, but it didn’t go the way we expected it to. Now we just have to work hard, prepare for the Coppa Italia and remember there’s no such thing as an easy game.
“Obviously our position in the table is frightening, but we have to bring a different tension and concentration at particular moments in the game.”
Incredibly, the Rossoneri have thrown away 17 points this season from leading situations.
“We must start to get different results. After going 2-0 up, we let the concentration levels drop in defence. We have worked on this and there have been games this season where we kept the concentration up, but we above all seem to lose that focus when it looks as if the situation is simple.
“It is a defect, as we ended the first half of the season the same way we started in, as we had been leading in the opening game at Verona and lost 2-1. It’s a series of components that cause this and we need to sort it out.
“Unfortunately we emerged with another defeat tonight against a smart and talented Sassuolo side and we did not defend well enough. You can concede goals, that can happen, but not like this.”
Allegri was asked whether he regretted his summer transfer strategy, for example signing striker Alessandro Matri rather than a new defender.
“Matri was a choice because at that time Giampaolo Pazzini was out and our only centre-forward was Mario Balotelli. The club has always done everything possible on the transfer market and the characteristics of our players have changed.
“The fact remains Milan should have a different position in the standings, for a series of reasons we do not, so we have to roll our sleeves up and work hard.”
Allegri has already confirmed he will leave Milan at the end of the season, but will he be given the opportunity to stay until May?
“The club will make that decision. I have always worked for the good of Milan and the players, so I am relaxed with what I have done.
“Admittedly, we are paying a heavy price this season and know the fightback will be very difficult, even more so after this defeat, but we knew the Coppa Italia was our best bet for getting into Europe.”