Allegri Commends AC Milan's Sacrifice Off The Ball In Arsenal Friendly Match

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Massimiliano Allegri expressed satisfaction with AC Milan's effort without possession during their pre-season match against Arsenal. Despite a 1-0 defeat in Singapore, Allegri found positives in the team's performance. Bukayo Saka scored the only goal in the second half. Milan struggled offensively, managing just 0.21 expected goals from three attempts. Allegri acknowledged room for improvement but appreciated the team's commitment.

Allegri, in his second stint as Milan's head coach, noted the match served as valuable training against a top European team. "It was a good training match against one of the best teams in Europe. I'm happy with what I saw, even if we're just 15 days into the pre-season preparation," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. He highlighted the players' willingness and increased sacrifice when not in possession.

The Italian side showed resilience by matching Arsenal for 60 minutes, which Allegri considered significant given Arsenal's quality. "We played on par with them for 60 minutes; that's no small thing," he remarked. Although not entirely satisfied with losing, even in a friendly, Allegri emphasised the importance of preparing well for the upcoming season.

Milan is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire left-back Pervis Estupinan from Brighton. The Ecuadorian is anticipated to fill the void left by Theo Hernandez, who transferred to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. During the Arsenal match, Davide Bartesaghi, aged 19, started as left wing-back for Milan.

Allegri praised Bartesaghi's performance against Arsenal's Saka, stating: "He [Estupinan] is an important player, but Bartesaghi put in a good performance against a top-class player like Saka." This suggests confidence in Bartesaghi's abilities despite potential new signings.

Allegri remains focused on enhancing team performance as they progress through pre-season preparations. He acknowledged open-field opportunities that could have been better utilised and stressed continuous improvement. While acknowledging challenges faced against strong opponents like Arsenal, Allegri remains optimistic about refining strategies ahead of competitive matches.