Max Allegri did not deny a heated argument with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, nor the fact that missing out on the Champions League would be considered a failure for Milan. "I've had much worse discussions than this."
The match against Genoa at "Marassi" takes place on Sunday at 12:00.
The Rossoneri have been in a training camp since Thursday to prepare for this meeting, which received its final date and time only on Thursday night.
Milan have fallen to fourth place after just seven points in the last eight weeks of Serie A and the pressure has increased significantly.
"It's normal that there is disappointment and we are the first to feel it," Allegri said at the press conference.
"I knew it would be difficult to secure a place in the Champions League, but tomorrow we have a good chance against a team that is in good form. We need organisation, patience and then we will see. The boys have worked well and had the opportunity to rest during these three days."
Even when Milan were battling with Inter for the top of the table, Allegri had stated that the real objective was to finish in the top four.
Now Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has admitted that any result other than qualification for the Champions League would be a failure.
"It's normal at Milan that you have to be ambitious and aim for the maximum," the coach replied.
"I always say that the result you get at the end of a long season is the one you deserve. Then you can analyze the problems and mistakes, but at this moment we have to be focused on tomorrow's match."
"I liked Cardinale's words. I spoke to him recently and gave him my perspective on this season and the future of Milan, which interests everyone. Milan is above everything and above everyone. The rest of us are just passersby."
Focusing on Genoa is not easy, as the main media headlines talk about the tension within the club, where CEO Giorgio Furlani is the subject of protests from fans, while reports speak of a strong clash between Allegri and special advisor Ibrahimovic.
"I'm used to always having professional relationships and collaborating professionally with managers and owners," Allegri said when asked about the conflict with Ibrahimovic.
"Within the meetings, not just this year, there have always been moments where different ideas clash and you can agree or disagree. But today we have to focus all our energy on tomorrow's match."
It has been reported that the club's internal division has Ibrahimovic and Furlani on one side, while Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare on the other.
"Look, there will always be discussions within a company. Someone sees things in black and white, someone else in red, but the most important thing is that everyone works for the interest of the club.
"I've had much worse arguments than this, but the fundamental thing is that we're all moving in the same direction. Words are worth little, but at the end of the season the question is: are we in the Champions League or the Europa League? Then the club will make its own assessments. It would have been better to know this a month ago, but now we have to wait until May 25.
"We have Taren as the sporting director and he has done a good job. We understood each other immediately. He is professional and well prepared. All these attacks on him... When the end of the season comes, the responsibility is shared by everyone."
Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan are suspended, but Luka Modric is surprisingly part of the squad after training with a protective mask, just three weeks after surgery for a fractured cheekbone.
"Samuele Ricci has sprained his ankle, but he is travelling with us and we will see how he is tomorrow. At this moment the team should not be involved in haste or anxiety. We need organisation, determination and the belief that we can achieve the result."
"We'll see at the end of the season if we did well or if others were better. Football is like that, everything can turn upside down in a moment. On March 8 everyone was talking about the Scudetto after the derby, and now we've lost the advantage over fifth place. That means something went wrong.
"We have made mistakes in the last six weeks, but there has never been a lack of professional commitment in every match. We have worked to put in a good performance tomorrow, but it will not be easy to get the result," Allegri concluded./Express newspaper/
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