Allegri predicts how many points Milan need for top 4 finish but insists ‘Inter are the best’

Massimiliano Allegri has once again insisted that Inter and Cristian Chivu are the nailed-on favourites to win the Serie A title, that Milan are only focused on Champions League qualification and has predicted how many more points the Rossoneri need to achieve that goal. 

The spirits are high in the Rossoneri camp after defeating city rivals and Serie A leaders Inter 1-0 in the Derby della Madonnina last weekend, their second consecutive win against the Nerazzurri this season. 

Milan have not lost in any of their last seven matches against Inter, who still have a seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A standings heading into the final 10 league matches of the season. 

Despite many claiming that Milan kept the title race alive with their victory over Inter last season, Allegri, like he has done all season, insists that his side are only focused on securing a spot in the top four and a place in next season’s Champions League. 

Allegri sat down to talk all things Milan during his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s match away against Lazio. 

Allegri: ‘Milan are happy’, but ‘Inter have shown they’re the best’

Milan were visited by legendary former attacker Andriy Shevchenko at their training ground on Friday: “It was a pleasure for me, the staff and the whole team. We hope he brings us good luck ahead of tomorrow’s game,” said Allegri (via TMW). 

Allegri went on to give his thoughts now that the dust has settled following last weekend’s Derby della Madonnina victory over Inter. 

“We’re all happy after the last game and rightly so, but the team returned to a calm state on Tuesday,” he said. 

“Now we’ve got Lazio, though, which is always a complicated game because Sarri’s sides are difficult to face. For us it’s an important game because we want to take another step forwards.” 

During practically every press conference of his this season, Allegri has maintained his stance that Milan are not focusing on a title fight, but that their main goal is a return to Champions League action for 2026-27. 

“It’s not a question of trying to win the Scudetto,” he repeated on Saturday. “We have to try and win games because you don’t get anywhere with just 60 points. Inter have a seven-point advantage, they’ve shown us that they’re the best and the strongest. 

“There are also teams behind us chasing. We have to win more games to reach a certain quota. We have to win five more games to get into the top four.

“We have to achieve our own results regardless of the others, then we’ll make sure the others behind us can’t catch up.”

 Milan will be without the suspended Adrien Rabiot on Sunday, but a decision over his replacement is still yet to be made. 

“Numbers always end up getting cut down. I don’t know who out of Jashari or Ricci will play, but the important thing is that the team puts in a good collective performance, with organisation and awareness. Lazio score a lot of goals towards the end of games.

“Fortunately there will be a full stadium with 10,000 Milan fans tomorrow, which is very important for us.”

And on his injury list, Allegri said: “Gimenez will not be there tomorrow, but he’s doing well from a psychological point of view.” 

And on Christian Pulisic, he added: “Physically he’s doing much better. He had a good game in the derby. He’s constantly growing. Both he, Leao, Fullkrug and even Nkunku are doing well.”

And previewing Lazio, Allegri said: “It will be a difficult game. They don’t concede much. It will be a big game for them, because they will want to try and beat Milan, and it’s important for us because it would allow us to take a small step forwards.” 

Allegri also weighed in with his verdict on this season’s Champions League and the disappointing results by the Italian sides competing this season. 

“Football is great because it’s debatable, and because these situations change every year. Right now, looking at the final stages, even the English sides are in difficulty. 

“This format is fun on one hand, there are a lot of games, but you risk finding yourself on the ‘wrong’ side of the standings. Maybe next year will be different. The important thing is to play in it. Then we’ll see what everyone’s capable of doing. There are no rules.” 

Allegri also gave one final reminder of what he hopes to achieve before the end of the season: “The ambition is not the Scudetto, but to do our best, to commit ourselves every day. We’ll see who’s the ‘best’ later on because it’s such a long season and the best over the course of the year always wins it.”