AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has defended his tactical decisions after a heated exchange with pundit Christian Vieri following the Rossoneri’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Fiorentina. The win lifted Milan to the top of the Serie A table for the first time in over a year, holding a narrow one-point lead.
Allegri Responds to Vieri’s Criticism Over Leão vs. Gimenez
Allegri was questioned by former Italy striker Vieri about his decision to start Rafael Leão as the main forward instead of deploying a traditional centre-forward like Santi Gimenez from the outset. Vieri suggested Milan lacked clarity in their attacking setup, but Allegri was quick to dismiss the criticism.
“If I had you on the bench, maybe I would have started Gimenez,” Allegri retorted sharply.
He explained that keeping an attacking option on the bench was essential due to ongoing injury issues in the squad.
“Games last 95 minutes. I needed someone who could change the game later. I had to read the match, and tonight, it worked.”
Allegri clarified that he intended to introduce Gimenez earlier but delayed the change until after a Fiorentina corner and a booking for Zachary Athekame, ensuring balance was maintained.
Penalty Drama? Allegri Says There Was None
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute, when Leão stepped up to score the winning penalty. Despite speculation over who should take the spot-kick, Allegri insisted there was no confusion.
“There was no confusion. I told Rafa to take it. He trained for it and struck it well… Did I watch? No, I never watch penalties.”
Leão, who also scored a brilliant equaliser just eight minutes after Fiorentina took the lead, delivered a crucial performance. His curler from outside the box marked his first Serie A goal at San Siro in 512 days.
Allegri noted that once Gimenez was introduced, Leão had more freedom:
“With Gimenez beside him, Leão was able to roam and express himself better.”
Milan’s Mentality Praised After Comeback
Despite going behind to a Robin Gosens goal in the 55th minute, Milan showed resolve.
“We hadn’t allowed a single shot on target before their goal,” Allegri said. “After conceding, the team reacted very well. It wasn’t easy, but we deserved this win.”
Fiorentina managed just one shot on target, underlining Milan’s defensive solidity even with injuries to key players like Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic.
Top of Serie A – But Allegri Remains Cautious
With the victory, Milan now sit top of Serie A with 16 points, their first time leading the table outright since early last season. Yet Allegri remains focused.
“We’re not sending messages to anyone. We must enjoy this, but stay calm – the season is long. There are many points still to win.”
What’s Next for the Rossoneri?
Milan now face a crucial stretch of fixtures: Atalanta, Roma, and Pisa.
Allegri hopes to recover key players soon, adding:
“We’ll be back on Friday, hopefully with Loftus-Cheek and Nkunku returning.”
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