Allegri: Niang will grow at Milan

Posted Friday, December 14, 2012 by ESPN

AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri is pleased that 17-year old M'Baye Niang managed to get his name on the score-sheet in their 3-0 win over Reggina.

Although there was a place in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals at stake, AC Milan boss Allegri fielded a second-string line-up, choosing to rest the likes of Stephan El Shaarawy and Antonio Nocerino.

Nonetheless, his young charges did their jobs as the Rossoneri routed Reggina 3-0, thanks to goals from Mario Yepes, Niang and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Allegri told the club's official website after the game that he was glad Niang managed to mark a rare starting opportunity with a goal.

"Niang is young, he has quality and he has to improve. He scored this evening and he’ll be given time to grow and he’ll definitely grow," Allegri said.

"It’s never good to make comparisons with Balotelli. Niang is a different player to Mario and he should be given the pace to grow."

All three of Milan's strikes came during a markedly improved second-half performance, but the Rossoneri manager admitted he was concerned by how his players appeared to tire before the game was over.

"It’s an important win this evening, we played a bad first half and we did better in the second 45. The players deserve to get through to the next round," Allegri stated.

"There was tiredness on the pitch in the second half. We’re in good shape physically and should be getting better in the second half."

AC Milan welcome Pescara to the San Siro for their Serie A game this weekend.