Despite suggestions of a strained relationship between Max Allegri and the club, defender Matteo Gabbia has affirmed that the players “all hope he will stay at Milan for a long time, he is a world-class coach.”
Allegri, who assumed the coaching role last summer, has guided the team to third place in Serie A, positioning them well for a Champions League qualification spot. However, recent consecutive losses to Napoli and Udinese have raised questions about his future, particularly with the possibility of him being offered the Italy national team coaching position.
Gabbia and Milan Players Stand by Allegri
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Gabbia emphasized Allegri’s caliber, stating, “Allegri is a world-class coach.” He further elaborated, “Everyone in the squad thinks this. He has a way of handling moments, both good and bad, that is just incredible! His experience, his knowledge of what to say, the buttons he has to press, it’s second to none.”
Gabbia also highlighted the players’ responsibility, adding, “Then it is up to us to go on the field, assimilate what he asked for, and do the best we possibly can. Allegri has been a very important figure for us this season. We are all very happy with him and his staff.”
In a separate conversation with MilanNews, Gabbia was directly asked about the team’s desire for the coach to remain at San Siro. He responded, “It is what the whole team wants, not just what I think. I am speaking here on behalf of the entire squad, we are super happy with the coach and hope he can remain with us for a long time.” He concluded by stressing the importance of current results, stating, “Right now, the most important things are the results, which decide everything. We’ve got to follow him 100 per cent, then it will all go the right way.”
The former Juventus manager’s stints on the sidelines have seen him take sabbaticals in recent years, but his man-management skills have clearly impressed the Milan players. Gabbia noted, “His ability to understand the various moments, especially negative ones, means he knows when he has to go in hard, or when to relax the tension.”
He also expressed his surprise at Allegri’s meticulous match preparation, stating, “I was honestly really surprised by the way he prepares the matches, because often times he will tell us about situations that genuinely do happen, so we can recreate the response perfectly. There are many situations where he can keep surprising us with his working method.”
