Rabiot decisive but demanding: three points are not enough to silence the critics
He was the undisputed star of Milan vs Verona: Adrien Rabiot, the French midfielder, scored the goal that decided the match and delivered three crucial points in the race for Champions League qualification. But the Frenchman did not bask in the praise after the final whistle — instead, he surprised everyone with a statement of remarkable honesty and professional maturity: “We need to do more in terms of our play. The result and the three points are fine, but we didn’t play a great match.”
Powerful words, especially coming from the man of the match. A player who could have simply enjoyed the compliments chose instead to raise the bar — for himself and for his teammates. That is the spirit of someone who truly wants to improve.
Allegri self-critical: too many technical errors
Massimiliano Allegri was equally direct in his assessment of the performance. The Milan coach openly admitted: “I saw a lot of technical mistakes, misplaced passes even from three metres, players poorly positioned in certain situations, and little rhythm.” He added: “At times we could have attacked the space in behind more with the forwards, and that would have stretched Verona.”
Allegri’s visible frustration in the closing stages of the match reflects this technical dissatisfaction. Milan won, yes — but the coach knows that against stronger opponents in next season’s European competition, such errors will be punished far more severely.
Pressure from the standings and the weight of three points
Allegri also put the team’s emotional state into context: “We had lost two matches in a row, and when you start looking at the table from the bottom, points become vital. The goal is right there and there’s a fear of not reaching it. It’s natural that there’s much more pressure.”
A clear-eyed and human analysis, explaining why in certain matches the mental burden weighs heavier than the physical one. Milan, coming through a difficult spell, responded in the most important way: by picking up the win. And that, in the end, is what matters most.
Santiago Gimenez under the spotlight: a decisive week for the striker
One of the hot topics emerging from the match was the performance of Santiago Gimenez, Milan’s Mexican striker. Allegri did not hide a degree of dissatisfaction with the former Feyenoord man’s contribution in certain moments of the game, particularly during spells when Milan should have been exploiting space in behind. There is work to be done with the South American centre-forward in the coming training sessions: the week ahead will be important in assessing his condition and his full integration into the coach’s tactical system.
Five matches to finish the season in style
Milan now prepare to face the final five Serie A matchdays, knowing that just seven points stand between the Rossoneri and the mathematical certainty of playing in the Champions League next season. The squad has shown it can win even when not at its best — now the aim is to rediscover the fluidity and rhythm that Allegri himself keeps calling for. All the signs are there for Milan to close out the season with authority.
