Allegri: Milan on course to achieve Champions League return despite Sassuolo setback
AC Milan dropped more points against sides in the bottom half of Serie A on Sunday, but Massimiliano Allegri was looking at the positives.
Massimiliano Allegri insists that his AC Milan team remain on course to achieve their ambition of Champions League football despite drawing with Sassuolo on Sunday.
Allegri watched on as his team played out a 2-2 draw at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, with Armand Lauriente striking late to seal a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Sassuolo had taken the lead in the 13th minute through Ismael Kone before Davide Bartesaghi netted either side of half-time to put the Rossoneri in control of the contest.
Indeed, at 19 years and 350 days, Bartesaghi is the youngest Italian defender to score for Milan in Serie A since Paolo Maldini (19 years and 247 days) on February 28, 1988.
But the teenager's brace was not enough for Allegri's team, with Lauriente rounding off a beautifully crafted team move with a 77th-minute finish past Mike Maignan.
Milan ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.2 from 13 shots to Sassuolo's 1.1 from their eight attempts. While Allegri was unhappy with the way in which his side conceded, he remained upbeat about the campaign.
"I think we played a good game, we attacked well, and Sassuolo are always dangerous because they have quality in attack, so if you don't recover the ball immediately, you are forced to track back for 90 minutes," Allegri told DAZN.
"We played a good game, but in the end, we even risked losing it. Now we focus on the Supercoppa.
"The lads played a good game, regardless of the players' characteristics. For now, we are still the table leaders, and our target is to qualify for the Champions League.
"We know there's a lot of work to do, and obviously, we must start conceding fewer goals. I absolutely can't blame the lads."
Milan are handed an 86.1% chance of finishing in the top four by the Opta supercomputer, but their attentions will now turn to the Supercoppa Italiana, where they will face Antonio Conte's Napoli in the semi-finals on December 18.
But following the draw against Sassuolo, Allegri was asked about his decision to replace Christian Pulisic for Samuele Ricci in the 73rd minute.
"I would have done it anyway. Christian had joined us in Turin after a fever and then trained," Allegri said.
"He played well for 72 minutes, but at that moment, we needed one more midfielder.
"Loftus-Cheek held firm up front, but we had to defend better, especially for the second goal. We had to follow Lauriente, and it was too easy for them to score."
