28 January 2023
Massimiliano Allegri has stressed that the team's sole focus is on returning to winning ways against Monza.
The coach was speaking to the gathered media the day before the Bianconeri host the Lombard outfit at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a 15:00 CET kick-off.
“We come into this fixture after picking up just one point in our last two matches, conceding eight goals in the process," Allegri began. "We have to do better. Before then we'd conceded seven goals in 17 matches, so we must slip back into our old defensive habits.
“Monza play good football and they showed that in the Coppa Italia. It's important we get back to winning ways.”
TEAM SELECTION
“[Dusan] Vlahovic and [Paul] Pogba are available for selection. They both had a good runout the other day. Dusan is in slightly better condition than Paul but both could feature, although they don't have more than 30 minutes in them.
“[Federico] Chiesa won't be available as he has a niggle in the calf on the leg he was operated on. It's the sort of minor setback that can happen in these cases but he'll be back for Lazio on Thursday.
“[Juan] Cuadrado is out with an inflamed sciatic nerve and [Leo] Bonucci is behind with his fitness.
“[Weston] McKennie won't be involved either. I think the club have reached an agreement with the club he'll be joining.”
FOCUS THE WATCHWORD
“We have to shut ourselves off from everything else and focus on getting points on the board. We needn't trouble ourselves with external problems because we have a strong club behind us. We must focus on the last 19 games we have to play this season.”
