Milan coach values the point at the Olimpico as Rossoneri gain ground on Napoli and keep Roma at arm’s length
AC Milan left the Olimpico with a 1–1 draw against Roma, a result that Massimiliano Allegri considers significant in the context of the Champions League race. While the Rossoneri once again struggled to control the entire match, their head coach was quick to underline the importance of the outcome — and the decisive role played by Mike Maignan.
“The first seven or eight minutes were good, then Roma grew into the game and we made some mistakes in our build-up,” Allegri admitted after the final whistle. “They were strong in their pressing and quicker on second balls. Maignan kept us alive — he made some great saves.”
Roma dominated large stretches of the first half, forcing Milan onto the back foot. Allegri acknowledged the imbalance but framed it as part of the game’s natural rhythm. “There’s always a team that pushes more and one that pushes less,” he said. “We should have defended better by keeping the ball higher up the pitch. We needed to be more organized and slow their play down.”
The second half, however, told a different story. “After the break we were better technically,” Allegri noted. “Once we went ahead, the match felt like it was going in the right direction.” Still, football’s unpredictability struck again. “These things happen,” he added. “Often when everything seems to be under control, something goes wrong.”
Despite conceding the equalizer, Allegri stressed the value of the draw. “Coming away with a 1–1 in Rome at this stage of the season is a very important result,” he said. “We gained a point on Napoli and kept Roma four points behind us. For our final objective, that matters a lot.”
The Milan coach also highlighted a key moment of the match. “It felt more likely that we would score a second goal than them getting the equalizer,” Allegri reflected, hinting at missed opportunities that could have sealed the win.
While the Scudetto race now looks increasingly complicated, Allegri has never hidden his priorities. Milan’s consistency — marked by a long unbeaten run — continues to protect their position in the top four. And in a tight battle for Champions League qualification, Allegri made it clear that nights like this can make all the difference.
