Milan, Allegri: Want progress v Liverpool, must gel quickly | OneFootball

The Milan summer tour continues in Asia and Oceania, and tomorrow, at 1:30 PM Italian time, the Rossoneri will face a high-level test against the English champions Liverpool, in a prestigious match scheduled in Hong Kong.

Milan, Allegri sets the goal: “Against Liverpool, I want progress compared to Arsenal. We need to become a team quickly”

On the eve of the match, coach Massimiliano Allegri spoke at a press conference, taking stock of the ongoing preparation and clarifying his expectations.

Growth objective: “I want to see progress”

After the defeat against Arsenal in the first test of the tour, Allegri expects improvement in several areas:

“We will face one of the strongest teams in Europe. Liverpool has won the Premier League and knows what it means to compete at high levels. For us, it will be an important test: I want to see progress compared to the game against Arsenal. Defensively, we did well, but we need to capitalize more on the chances created. For now, it's normal not to be perfect, but we are heading in the right direction.”

Leao as central forward and confidence in new additions

While waiting for offensive reinforcements, Rafael Leao will again be used in the role of center forward, as already happened against the Gunners:

“I liked Leao's attitude. He played a good game, as did the whole team, especially in the non-possession phase. However, we need to be more effective in front of the goal.”

The coach then commented on the arrival of full-back Estupiñán and the management's work in the market:

“I don't envy those who have already spent a lot, like Liverpool. We are building intelligently. Estupiñán has arrived and will be important. Now we need to integrate other players who are functional to the technical project.”

Work, knowledge, and team identity

The main goal of this phase remains to consolidate the group's identity:

“We need to become a team as soon as possible. This tour is crucial for getting to know each other better, working together, and building a common mentality. I see a lot of desire from the guys, and it's the first step to grow.”

Modric as a technical and mental guide

One of the most anticipated names of the Rossoneri summer is undoubtedly Luka Modric. The Croatian star, expected at Milanello in the early days of August, represents a point of reference according to Allegri:

“Modric is an example, both on and off the field. His technical quality and experience will be fundamental for the growth of the group.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.