Allegri wants ruthless AC Milan to bare its teeth
Massimiliano Allegri says AC Milan needs to get back to being more ruthless in the second half of the Serie A season, with Como next up for the Rossoneri on Friday (AEDT).
At the halfway point, Milan is second on the table, but now six points behind rival Inter Milan after it won against Lecce on Thursday (AEDT).
Since losing on the opening day of the season to Cremonese, Milan is unbeaten in its past 18 league games, winning 11 of those, but has lost ground on the leader after back-to-back draws with Genoa and Fiorentina in itspast two outings.
Allegri's main aim is keep the momentum going when his side travels to Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
"We have 40 points. Those are the ones we earned on the pitch, and it's a good base. No one can take them away from us," Allegri said.
"Now we have to think about the next 19 matches, the second half of the season, and pick up points to stay in the top four.
"We need to get back to being a bit more ruthless during matches. There are moments when we're a little fragile in both phases.
"And we need to improve certain situations of play, especially being more technically precise. The players have great quality, but they need to be convinced that they are a strong team."
Como, meanwhile, is flying high in sixth place, just five points behind the top four, having suffered just three defeats all season.
Cesc Fabregas' side is unbeaten in its past four matches, but its three-match winning streak – in which it did not concede – was ended by a 1-1 draw with Bologna last time out.
Allegri has been impressed with what he has seen from Fabregas in his coaching career so far, but said this match is about the teams on the pitch, not the head coaches.
"It's not Fabregas against Allegri, it's Como against Milan," Allegri said.
"Fabregas is doing an excellent job; it's a lively Como side that presses well and is technically strong.
"He's doing a great job even if he's only been coaching for two or three years."
