Allegri: 'Cassano and Ibra will stay at Milan'
Allegri wants three points against Sampdoria, an important step ahead in the race for the Scudetto: I expect Sampdoria to play an open game and to create some problems for us. They have good players and despite their league position, they’re a good team. Tomorrow, we’ll need to play with great attention without saving energy. We’ll have to be tactically aware and play a fast football, and because of this I think it won’t be easy. The Blucerchiati have more than weapon. Cassano and Pazzini used to be their key players, but now Pozzi will be back in the team and Maccarone is doing well; Poli, Guberti and Palombo are important players, too".
Ibrahimovic is disqualified and will not play: Ibra is not nervous, otherwise he wouldn’t have played one of his best games of the season in Florence, then in the end he swore, which the referee and the linesman misunderstood. It’s normal that every Milan player, such as Bonera, Pirlo, Pirlo and Inzaghi, wants to be available for the final stage of the season and wants to give his contribution to the team’s cause. The squad is calm, I haven’t seen any sign of nervousness. Against Bari, Ibra committed a soft reaction foul, while against Fiorentina he was speaking to himself, that’s what he told me. I think the lads are behaving in line with the style that has always characterised Milan. “I believe Ibra will stay at Milan. His season, aside from the last month, in which he had to pay a high price for inappropriate behaviour, has been exemplary. In the first five months he did great things and he’ll shine again when he returns. He wants to make amends for the suspension. Missing the upcoming matches is a huge blow for him."
Then Allegri ended speaking about Cassano: “This has been an important week for Cassano as he's become a father. I’m satisfied with what he's done at Milan: he's been decisive in a couple of games and everyone who has given a hand to the team despite spending limited time on the field is important. We managed to do well even when a lot of players were out with injury, and it’s partly down to those who have given something extra after coming off the bench. I don’t think Cassano should look for another team. At Milan he’s very appreciated and is considered an important member of the squad. At a team like ours, it’s normal that even some stars remain on the bench sometime, but the class of a player shows when he can do his best even when he doesn’t start. I think it won’t affect his role in the national team: he’s a prized asset of Italian football and becoming a father will make him more responsible”.
