The Rossoneri coach: “There will be other difficult games, but if you play them with this spirit, it’s easier to win them. Modric? He’s such an intelligent player…”

Massimiliano Allegri at his best: counterattacks, verticality, obsessive attention to defense, suffering and sacrifice in the very long half hour (more than) with one man down against Napoli. A purity reminiscent of those mineral water commercials with mountains in the background: his Milan is now up there, at the top alongside Napoli and Roma, observing how evocative the view is down below. The first month and a half of the Rossoneri under his management is eye-opening, regardless of the fact that, coming off the misfortunes of last season, everything now stands out even more. It’s not just an emotional factor: it’s substance. Six wins in the first seven games of the season, five clean sheets, only three goals conceded, one of which was tonight’s penalty. But above all, Max returns to Milanello with the knowledge that his team knows how to suffer, fight, defend and, when needed, be lethal up front. Considering the ruins from which he began to rebuild the Diavolo, it took him very little time.

quality—  “It was a very difficult game, we played a good first half, then in the second we were forced… to train well defensively, proving that when you defend in a certain way, it’s difficult to concede goals. However, this is only the beginning. We need to keep working, we’ve taken another small step forward, if it had ended in a draw, nothing would have happened given how it went. There will be other difficult games, but if you play them with this spirit, it’s easier to win them. Up front we have Leao, Pulisic, Gimenez, Nkunku and Loftus, who plays between attack and midfield. The important thing is that Leao improves his condition. Modric? He’s such an intelligent player, even when closing down. In front of the defense, someone like him brings a lot of quality. Usually in the Italian league, that area is occupied by players who mainly make interceptions. I’m not thinking about Juve yet, but Juve-Milan is a wonderful game. It’s also fun. I’ve played in it on both sides.