Allegri warns: Milan must learn from the incredible Modric.

Max Allegri, the coach of AC Milan, did not hold back in praising Croatian icon Luka Modric after his team secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Pisa, highlighting the “character and humility” of the 40-year-old player. Allegri emphasized that everyone at Milan should learn from Modric’s approach and determination, as he was decisive in the match, scoring the winning goal in the final moments.

AC Milan, which has struggled against teams fighting to stay in Serie A, had already dropped precious points against Pisa in October, where they could only manage a 2-2 draw at home. Yesterday’s match seemed to have a similar flavor, as after Ruben Loftus-Cheek opened the scoring, Niclas Fullkrug missed a crucial penalty by hitting the crossbar, allowing Felipe Loyola to equalize. However, it was Modric who secured the three points for Milan in a game where the team faced difficulties, especially after Adrien Rabiot was sent off for excessive protesting.

“It was not easy tonight, because Pisa are an uncomfortable team to play against. They look like they’re sitting back and doing nothing, then can strike on the counter and caught us napping on their goal too. So we take three points, but we really need to improve after this performance,” said Allegri to DAZN, reflecting on the difficulties of the match. The victory allowed Milan to remain unbeaten in 23 consecutive Serie A matches, the longest active streak in the top five European leagues, and continue to apply pressure on leaders Inter.

Allegri also commented on his team’s performance, stating that “this team has technical quality, but sometimes we become mentally slow, and that’s where we need to improve.” The coach acknowledged that the course of the season can change rapidly, especially considering this was the sixth away game in nine matches, making each victory even more valuable.

The impact of Modric on the team was undoubtedly remarkable, as he not only was named Man of the Match but also became the third oldest player to score in Serie A history, at 40 years and 157 days. Allegri praised his work ethic and encouraged younger players to absorb the veteran’s knowledge: “Quite aside from his marvelous technique, he really wanted to go and get this victory at the end. We should all learn from his character and incredible humility.”

After Modric’s goal, Allegri made strategic changes, bringing in Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao for the attack, but opted to substitute Fullkrug for Koni De Winter to restore defensive balance. Regarding the penalty missed by Fullkrug, Allegri downplayed the situation, stating that “penalties can be missed, it was an important moment, but these things happen,” while praising the attitude of Pulisic and Leao.

On the other hand, Rabiot’s expulsion, who was already suspended for the next match against Como, will now also prevent him from participating in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter, a significant loss for Milan. When asked about the rivalry between Inter and Juventus, Allegri kept his focus on his own objectives: “The important thing is that we got three points, now we are on 53, so we are one win closer to achieving our objective.”

Milan, under Allegri’s leadership and with Modric as a cornerstone, appears more determined than ever to continue their title fight, while their rivals prepare for an exciting conclusion in Serie A.