Milan cannot afford another loss says Allegri
Massimiliano Allegri believes AC Milan cannot afford to lose more than one match for the remainder of the Serie A season, if they are to have any chance of catching title favourites Inter.
Milan trails their rivals by seven points going into matchday 26, having lost more ground when they drew 1-1 with Como on Wednesday.
Allegri was sent to the stands during the second half of that match following a scuffle on the sideline, as he felt Como boss Cesc Fabregas had pulled Alexis Saelemaekers back near the touchline, preventing a Rossoneri counter-attack.
Ignace van der Brempt also went unpunished for a challenge on Strahinja Pavlovic, and Allegri's red card means he is suspended for Sunday's meeting with Parma at San Siro.
"The season is still long, with 13 games to go. We have to do our job, starting with beating Parma," Allegri told reporters on Saturday.
"I'm disappointed not to be part of the game tomorrow. I won't comment or say anything else, so let's move on. These two games are very important for us, as are the derby and the others, until we reach our objective.
"Inter are on a very strong run, and with 13 games left, at an average of two points per game, they'd get 90. So, for us to get to 90, from 54, we need to get 36 points, meaning 12 wins and one defeat.
"If Inter were to fall off, and we fail to capitalise on their mistakes, that's our responsibility, but Inter are the clear favourites for the Scudetto."
Milan are unbeaten in their last 24 Serie A matches (15 wins, nine draws) and could record a run of at least 25 games without defeat in a single top-flight season for only the second time in their history, after the 34-match streak that lasted throughout the 1991-92 campaign.
"The further we go, the more important the games become. There are 13 games left, so there are 39 points up for grabs. We hope to get as many of them as possible," Allegri said.
"Talking about what happened [against Como] makes no sense; let's focus on tomorrow's match, because Parma are doing well. They are a very good defensive team; they're good at set-pieces. We will have to play a very organised and compact game."
Opponents Parma should offer a stern test, as they enter the game with 29 points from 25 matches, sitting 12th in the table.
In their previous five top-flight campaigns, Parma have only registered more points at this stage of a season on one occasion (35 in 2019-20, when they finished 11th).
