The former Brazilian full-back on the Rossoneri’s negative moment: “A bad test against Udinese, but nothing too unusual. I’m not worried about entering the top four: I trust Allegri, he will achieve his objective”
Confidence in Milan. Despite the defeat against Udinese and a lead over their rivals that has been reduced, Serginho is convinced that Milan will finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League. Concorde’s words are music to the ears of the Rossoneri people who booed Leao and the whole team on Saturday. On Sunday in Verona and seven days later in the big match against Juventus the ending will be different and the Brazilian is convinced that Allegri’s team will return to show its potential.
Serginho, what do you think happened at Milan on Saturday?
“Nothing so strange or anomalous. This season the team has done very well against the big teams, but has suffered a lot against the medium-small teams. When Milan have to play, they have more difficulty: at San Siro it also happened with Parma.”
The gap from fifth place Como is 5 points and in the Champions League race the Rossoneri have to thank Inter who beat the Como team…
“I’m not worried about the teams that are behind, but about Milan: if they play with the personality they showed in the derby and in many other matches, I’m not worried about getting into the top four. I think the ranking could have been even better than the current one if there hadn’t been avoidable missteps against inferior opponents, but now only the last six matchdays count in which we need to hit the target.”
Milan depends only on themselves. I don’t look at the calendar: for me the Rossoneri have the potential to finish in second or third place
“Milan has its destiny in its hands and it depends only on itself, on the results it achieves. I don’t look at the calendar: for me the team has the potential to finish in second or third place if it returns to showing the balance and concreteness that allowed it to go twenty-four league games without losing. From Sunday I hope to see that lineup again.”
In Verona, against a Hellas team almost in Serie B, the mistake not to make is to underestimate the effort.
“I don’t think it will happen. Especially after the defeat against Udinese, I expect Milan to be angry and fully concentrated. This is a match that absolutely must not be missed because then Juventus will arrive at San Siro.”
In short, will the next two rounds be decisive?
“The match against Juventus will be absolutely decisive. In the event of a victory against the Bianconeri, the objective would practically be achieved. But first we need to beat Verona.”
To beat Hellas Allegri will return to 3-5-2. Right after the 4-3-3 didn’t work?
“With Udinese, as Allegri underlined, there was a lack of tactical order. Milan started at the beginning of the season with the 3-5-2 and changed the system of play during a few matches and on Saturday for the first time since the start. Alternating formations is not easy for the players: the risk is that of not having memorized the new mechanisms and of giving away too many scoring opportunities as happened with Udinese. But don’t blame only the defense as a department because the phase of non-possession is the team as a whole.”
What is most worrying is the attack given that the last goal by a striker dates back to March 1st…
“The 3-5-2 that has brought Milan so high in the standings is a system that gives solidity to the team and valorises many individuals, but not the attackers. Leao and Pulisic are two attacking wingers and do not have the characteristics to play with their backs to goal: they need space to play one-on-one, to cross or to reach the conclusion. Leao especially, if he does not have the possibility of starting on the left, is penalised. He sacrificed himself to play the center forward and in some matches He did well and scored, but it’s not his natural role.”
Rafa was loudly booed on Saturday.
“San Siro is a demanding stadium which in the past has applauded him many times when he scored and offered important performances. Let’s say that in the last season and a half Leao has not always managed to express his great potential.”
Is the love story between the Portuguese and the Rossoneri people over? Will it be goodbye at the end of the season?
“Everything changes quickly in football and I wouldn’t give definitive judgements. Maybe the whistles on Saturday for Leao will be an extra incentive to demonstrate what he’s worth at the end of the season. Sometimes a goal is enough to rekindle the love. For example, if he scored the decisive goal to beat Juventus…”.
Would you let him play on Sunday in Verona?
“The decision is up to Allegri: no one knows the physical conditions of the team like him and has a finger on the pulse of the situation. He will make the right decision for Milan and to reach the goal.”
Milan must play the Champions League. For its history, for the club it is and for the fans it has. I am optimistic: I believe in Allegri and his men
“Diplomacy has nothing to do with it: it’s not easy to make judgments from the outside. As a Milan fan, I hoped that the team would be able to win the Scudetto, but they left too many points along the way in easy matches. Now the mistake must not be made in the race for Champions League qualification.”
Without entering the top four the season would be a failure.
“Milan must play in the Champions League. For its history, for the club it is and for the fans it has. I am optimistic and they don’t even want to think that after the last day we won’t be in the top four: we are up there from the start and I remain convinced that we will make it. I am optimistic and I believe in Allegri and his men. In Verona and against Juventus we will see the real Milan. I am convinced of it.”
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