Allegri Demands Attack Awakening as Milan Eyes Torino Win

Massimiliano Allegri held his pre-match press conference as AC Milan prepare for Saturday's early kick-off against Torino. With the Rossoneri looking to rebound from their recent setback, the manager addressed player fitness, tactical decisions, and broader club matters in a candid session at Milanello.

Modric's Impact and Uncertain Future

Allegri praised new signing Luka Modric for his influence beyond tactics. "Luka has arrived and brought quality on a technical level, but above all on a human and professional level, especially for the younger lads," he said. "To see a player, a man – Luka is 40 years old – with such passion and love for what he does is incredible." On Modric's long-term prospects, Allegri added: "The club will speak to him. It depends on him. He has a World Cup to play… In the meantime, let’s let him play, let him enjoy himself."

Gimenez Returns, but Attack Lacks Spark

Defender Malick Thiaw is fit and will be called up, but Allegri's focus was on the forward line. "Gimenez is fine; he’ll be in the squad tomorrow," he confirmed, before urging his attackers to improve. "Everyone in attack needs to wake up," he stressed, referencing Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic's injury-disrupted season. "They’ve had a season marred by injuries; one missed pre-season, the other had a good pre-season but was then out for two months."

On Pulisic, Allegri noted: "Pulisic is in good shape; physically speaking, he put in a good performance in Rome. He’s lacking precision in his shooting, but he’ll get it back." Leao, with nine goals, was encouraged to reach double figures. "Now we have everyone available; to play, we need to wake up. Everyone."

Tactical Options and Team Cohesion

With all strikers fit, Allegri considered using Niclas Fullkrug as a focal point. "If, 20 minutes from the end, you need someone with those qualities, you only have one. So you either play him from the start or at the end," he explained, adding that Leao could also operate centrally due to his movement.

He highlighted the need for better understanding between Leao and Pulisic, humorously noting: "That whoever has the ball needs to see who’s unmarked… He didn’t give him that ball because he didn’t see him." The manager emphasized collective responsibility: "We need to put individual goals at the service of the team."

Looking ahead to Torino, Allegri urged discipline. "We need to pick up points tomorrow to take a small step forward," he said, reflecting on the Lazio loss. "Against Lazio we could have been more clinical and we paid dearly for it. Tomorrow we need to play a disciplined game… with the aim of taking home the three points."

Pressure, VAR, and Psychological Resilience

Allegri dismissed fears of a psychological crisis post-Lazio. "There mustn’t be a backlash," he stated, citing defensive lapses. "In the first half we conceded nine counter-attacks, the highest number this season." He called for a return to composure and organization: "The derby is different; you have a different focus. We need to return to our composure and stay organised, which is our strength."

On VAR, Allegri supported the system's balance. "The referees are good; in recent matches they’ve been doing better," he said, advocating for referee autonomy. "The fewer changes, the better… Balance must prevail in all situations."

Club Planning and Italian Football's Challenges

Allegri revealed daily talks with sporting director Tare about squad evolution. "We see Tare every day, we have lunch together at Milanello… When we talk about the future – and we haven’t done so yet – we’ll do it all together."

He addressed AC Milan's European ambitions amid financial disparities. "In Italy, we don’t have the financial muscle to compete… At the end of the day, the teams reaching the semi-finals are the strongest financially," he noted, stressing sustainable growth from youth setups to the first team.

In a passionate critique, Allegri urged reforms in Italian football development. "We mustn’t denigrate Italian football… We need to sort out the youth academies, find different approaches. But don’t just talk, we need to act!" He warned of children abandoning football early and called for transparent data in youth sectors.

With a full squad available, Allegri's immediate challenge is securing a win against Torino to reignite Milan's campaign.