Press conference – Allegri: “Fullkrug and Pavlovic out. We must concentrate to stay in the top 4” & more related news here

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media in a press conference prior to the match against Como scheduled for tomorrow, January 15, 2026.

There is a lot of talk about points dropped against teams in the bottom half of the table, but AC Milan still has 40 points. Have they earned it?

“We have 40 points, and those are the ones we won on the field. It’s a good base, no one can take them away from us. Now we have to concentrate on the next 19 games, the second half of the season, to add points and remain in the top four.”

Allegri, torchbearer for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games:

“Beautiful experience, there were so many people. Sport is a wonderful thing: there are rules, discipline. It is very important for the growth of children and young people, who are educated through it. Sport educates, that is why children should do a lot of sport. I really enjoy skiing, and now, whenever I can, I go and have a lot of fun.”

Medical update:

“Fullkrug is out along with Pavlovic. Pavlovic has nine stitches in his head, Fullkrug has a big bruise on his toe which will keep him out today. Hopefully he will be ready on Sunday, otherwise for the Roma game.”

What does Milan need?

“We have to start being a little tougher during the game. There are moments when we are a little fragile in both phases. Then we have to improve the game situations, especially to be more technically precise. The players have great qualities, they just need to believe that they are a strong team.”

About the challenge with Fábregas:

“It’s not Fabregas against Allegri, it’s Como against Milan. Fabregas is doing an excellent job, he has a lively Como who presses well and is technically strong. He is doing a fantastic job despite having only trained for 2 or 3 years.”

What rating would you give to Milan?

“For me it is difficult to give evaluations. I can only say that if you ask the coaches, all the teams in the league have their buts.” But with “ifs and buts” you get nowhere. Each one has the points they deserve. Everyone has something to complain about… ‘If Pulisic had scored three goals in Florence…’ But he didn’t. He’s written them down before, and maybe he’ll do it again tomorrow. “We need to focus on our performances and improve our mental concentration: we are in the second half of the season and there is no more time to correct mistakes.”

Milan now concedes a few more goals:

“On Sunday in Florence, after the first fifteen minutes, we had already been in front of the goal three times with Pulisic. If you score, the approach is correct; if not… it all depends on the result. Against Roma at home, we had half an hour of terror, then we went ahead, and in the second half, we had 4 or 5 scoring opportunities… That’s football… Then there are unexpected events, and you have to manage them. But each match is different from the other. I agree that we fell behind eight times, but also We came back eight times: it depends if you see the glass as half full or half empty. If everything were perfect, which is impossible in football, all the games would end 0-0 or the same team would always win.”

Has any ski champion inspired your passion? Allegri responded:

“First of all, good luck to Federica Brignone and all the Italians participating in the Olympic Games. Tomba inspired me; when he ran, the schools stopped. In Italy we live on excellence, and that is something we have to work on. It is a global sporting event that will bring many people from different countries to Italy, and that is a wonderful thing.”

How is Leao? Is the team going through a slump?

“During the season there comes a moment that could be called a slump, but in reality it is not a slump. Even if it were, you have to handle it with balance. It’s not that the season ends tomorrow in Como: you have to stay balanced, have your nerves firm and your shoulders open. It was impossible for Juventus to stay out of the top four. It’s normal for the league to be like that. At the end of the season, it’s normal for someone to be left out. I hope it’s the others, not us (laughs). Rafa is fine.”

About the width of the Como field:

“It doesn’t change anything at all. Regardless of the width of the field, the more space there is, the easier it will be to play. We will face a team that is difficult to play against: they lead the league in possession and have the best defense. We face a team that does not have the responsibility to win, which gives them advantages: they can play every game with the mentality that Fábregas has instilled in them.”

They defend high and attack. Is that the key?

“It could be that, but it could also be that sometimes they concede action without conceding goals. The current theory says that they defend better because they defend high, and so far it is proving to be true, but maybe in two months you will say the opposite. The truth is that they are having a great season.”

Allegri, are Milan at the same level as Naples and Inter?

“It was really a beautiful match, they played very well technically. The intensity does not come from running; running is only a component if the ball moves fast. The intensity comes from the ball, not from running. You run chasing the ball, you can’t just run fast. They played a technically excellent game. Inter has been constant for six years, except 22/23, always in the top two. Napoli in the last 12 years has only missed the Champions League twice: they have done an important job. Our goal, that of “Everyone, it is working so that Milan can participate in the Champions League next year. To do this you have to work, go through good and bad moments, so that the team does not lose value; that is why I say that you have to travel at cruising speed, which is what takes you to the end.”

Tactical news? Four-man defense?

“This could be a solution, it’s something I’m thinking about, we’re working on it, it depends on the moments and the players I have. Now I have Fullkrug out; if I played with three forwards, I wouldn’t have anyone on the bench. In Florence I was able to make important substitutions. I have to establish a formation, regardless of the system, to also have options on the bench.”

How is Santiago Giménez progressing?

“Giménez is progressing well, but he is still far from returning. We will talk about it again in March, the end of March.”

Milan underestimated, does it touch their pride?

“We have to prove ourselves and aspire for the best result to show that we are better. If someone is in front of us, it means that they were better, the best. Nothing is impossible; if you start from that premise, then you can reach what is possible.”

Are midfielders missing goals? Allegri responded:

“They will come. In the league, in the end, all the numbers are equal. The defenders will score again from set pieces. You have to have a lot of confidence because Milan is a strong team. You have to be strong, especially in moments like these.”

How important were the January signings in 2011?

“Two extraordinary players arrived. Van Bommel was wonderful, Antonio had exceptional qualities. They were important. That does not mean that this year we need two players; the squad is fine as it is. The important thing is that we are satisfied and, above all, that I am satisfied.”

So is the defense fine as it is? Will De Winter be able to play in Pavlovic’s position?

“Tomorrow he will surely do it, Pavlovic is not available. He has played there before and has grown a lot. A lot of balance is needed. Some players are in their first year in Milan and have adapted very quickly. To get used to the pressures of Milan, mistakes are also made. I am happy with the players I have at my disposal: it is a good group and with them we will go to the end.”

If Milan return to the Champions League, will it be as a protagonist or as a supporting player, also considering possible outgoing transfers and past sales of important figures such as Sandro Tonali and Tijjani Reijnders?

“We are going step by step. Our goal is to finish in the top four. In the Champions League there are world-class teams in terms of income. Real Madrid earns more than a billion, Bayern 975 million. That gap is tough. For now, we hope that all the Italian teams progress in Europe so that five teams can qualify for the Champions League. Qualifying would be important both from a technical and financial point of view. Let’s focus on what we can do this year; what will happen next year We’ll see what’s coming.”