ALLEGRI: "NAPOLI A TEST FOR OUR GROWTH"

Three consecutive wins in the league and a pressing desire to keep this winning streak, even against the Italian champions. On Sunday night at 20:45 CEST, Napoli will come to San Siro, and on the eve of the match, it's time for Coach Allegri's press conference. His comments were broadcast live on the AC Milan Official App and Milan TV.

TOMORROW AND PREVIOUS
"We know that we're facing the team who deservedly won the Scudetto last season, who had an important transfer market and are still the number one favourites. Conte is brilliant at getting everyone to do their best. Napoli have 18 wins and eight draws in their last 26 matches and in September, AC Milan has lost their last four matches against them. It will be a great match against a team that doesn't give much away, we're hoping to turn these numbers around". 

NAPOLI AS A TEST
"It will be an important test, we're in good condition, be it physically and mentally. The more time we spend together, working and getting to know one another, the better we will be, and we will be able to perform better. We will need 100 solid minutes. Leão will be available. I'm happy that the fans will be there in their numbers to support us: we have to continue working, it will be important to make another step forward. We need to approach the game with enthusiasm and desire, to obtain certain results". 

THE CLASH BETWEEN THE COACHES
"I haven't had contact with Conte, his teams are not just very organised going forward, but also in defence: it's difficult to score against them. The numbers and results they're achieving are doing the talking. I have lots of respect for him, he's a true professional". 

ONE STEP AT A TIME
"The Club has worked well in the market, assembling a great squad with a mix of experienced and less experienced players. We have to think about working in the best way possible, to be in a good position in March so that we can fight for our objectives, especially that of finishing in one of the top sports. I'm not interested in what others say: we have to stick to this trend, with attention, enthusiasm and the desire to improve but also with great balance". 

EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT
"Tuesday's match showed that players like De Winter, Athekame and Nkunku had a great effect. Rafa needs to retain his best condition, I'm happy with how Nkunku is developing. Pulisic is doing very well, Giménez scored, and we hope he can continue doing so. You achieve your objectives if the players on the bench can make an impact, for better or for worse, because the team can't afford drops in intensity. Choosing the team will be difficult - I have a few doubts - but the important thing will be that those coming onto the pitch are ready mentally to make a contribution". 

IN MIDFIELD AND ATTACK
"I am grateful to the club because the arrival of an international player like Rabiot has raised the competitiveness within the group. I can rely on six brilliant players who all bring different characteristics into play. In terms of Modric, he's a type of champion that we don't really see anymore, we're lucky to have him, the other players are very trustworthy and this is fundamental. Everyone is available in attack, I'm in a tough spot because every player wants to play, but I can't field more than eleven". 

EYES ON THE RESULT...
"I emphasise balance a lot because football is debatable and perception can change how the work is evaluated. The result is what counts, there will be matches that we will win by a narrow margin, and then others when we will win by many goals, but then also occasions when we won't be able to play our game. On those occasions, it will be important to bring the result home, because you can't always do this with clean performances. We need to be ready to win those 7-8 'dirty' matches, which come around during the season. We need to know that, at AC Milan, winning is the norm, losing is the exception: having a clear focus on the result can give us some extra points". 

...AND ON THE OBJECTIVE
"There's a group of players that is becoming a team, and we have to work on this. Personal objectives must be second to the objectives of the group, to achieve our final goal, which needs to be the same for everyone: make sure that AC Milan is in the Champions League next season. Already mature?  The first test will be tomorrow, but we haven't resolved anything in just a month. The Scudetto or a Champions League spot won't be decided by the match against Napoli, there'll be a test every week". 

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