Milan coach celebrates a key victory but insists the real goal remains Champions League qualification
After Milan’s dramatic derby victory over Inter Milan, Massimiliano Allegri tried to keep expectations in check.
The AC Milan manager praised his team’s performance but was quick to remind everyone that Inter remain the favorites for the Serie A title.
“The Scudetto? Seven points is a lot,” Allegri said after the match. “Inter are the strongest team in the league and they remain the clear favorites.”
Still, Milan supporters left San Siro smiling after a victory that could reshape the race at the top of the table.
A Win That Strengthens Milan’s Position
While Allegri avoided bold statements about the title race, he admitted the result carries major importance for Milan’s immediate goals.
“We needed this result and it arrived,” he said. “It was important because now Juventus are ten points behind us.”
For Allegri, the focus remains securing a Champions League spot rather than chasing the title too early.
“This is one win closer to our objective,” he explained. “Juventus are at minus ten, Como and Roma are nine points behind.”
A Team Peaking at the Right Time
The Milan coach believes months of work are finally paying off physically and tactically.
“We worked for six or seven months to arrive in March in the best possible condition,” Allegri said.
In the first half, Milan pushed aggressively and spent a lot of energy pressing Inter high up the field. The second half required a more defensive approach as Inter increased the pressure.
“We dropped deeper and allowed some crosses and chances,” Allegri admitted. “But apart from that opportunity for Dimarco, we defended in an organized way.”
Memories of the 2011 Title
The derby victory inevitably brought back memories of Allegri’s first spell at Milan, when he led the club to the 2010–11 Serie A title.
That season also featured two derby wins against Inter.
“I remember how that ended,” Allegri joked. “We won the championship.”
The coach allowed himself a brief smile at the comparison but quickly returned to his cautious tone.
Praise From the Ownership
The derby also saw the presence of club owner Gerry Cardinale at San Siro.
According to Allegri, the owner entered the locker room after the match to congratulate the players.
“It was nice to see the whole ownership and management congratulate the team,” Allegri said. “But we know we haven’t achieved anything yet.”
Key Performances
Among the standout players in the derby was defender Pervis Estupiñán, who scored the decisive goal after a well-timed assist from Youssouf Fofana.
“We had prepared that move,” Allegri explained. “Fofana made a fantastic pass and Estupiñán finished it well.”
The Milan coach also pointed out that the midfielder had already created several scoring opportunities in previous matches.
A Milan Team Growing in Confidence
Perhaps the most important takeaway for Allegri is the overall condition of his squad.
“The team is feeling better physically,” he said. “And victories like this give you confidence.”
Whether that momentum will be enough to challenge Inter for the title remains uncertain.
For now, Allegri prefers to stay cautious.
But after beating their city rivals, Milan suddenly look like a team capable of dreaming a little bigger.
