Allegri wants better ball retention

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri called on his side to be more clinical and retain possession more often after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Milan.

The Rossoneri raced to a lead as early as the 21st minute through a Stephan El Shaarawy strike but the likes of Mario Balotelli, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sulley Muntari and M'Baye Niang all failed to convert their chances in the game.

Milan's potent attackforce has earned a lot of praise as despite having limited possession in their games, they have repeatedly managed to win their encounters with Barcelona being the biggest scalp last week.

On Sunday night against their arch-rivals, though, they were made to pay for their lack of a clinical edge as well as their failure to retain possession and preserve their one-goal lead. Inter managed to force a draw in the end as Ezequiel Schelotto scored for the Nerazzurri in the 72nd minute.

"We need to score goals when we get the chance, because we cannot expect to have the game in hand for the entire 90 minutes. We have to take our chances better," commented Allegri after the game.

"When a match is hanging by a thread, you have to kill it off.

Possession is crucial when you are in control of a game, but we gave the ball away too many times tonight [Sunday].

"But I'm not angry. I congratulated the boys. I'm happy with what the team has done especially in the first half. Despite dropping a little in intensity after the break, we allowed little and Christian Abbiati made one good save.

"We should've controlled possession better to make Inter run after us, as we ended up doing things that we shouldn't in a game like this.

"In the first half Inter couldn't get near us and we should've been better with them being tired after the break, but we didn't.

"I think the team remains in good shape and this was an ‘away' game against Inter. It's a shame, as we should've won, but then we beat Udinese at the 92nd minute when we deserved a draw, so that is football."

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is expected to be re-elected for the position on Monday and the outspoken ex-prime minister has already indicated his willingness to keep Allegri beyond the current season.

Allegri is more than happy to stay on at the club and gave a warm appraisal of the president's recent words of praise.

"I am very happy at Milan and was pleased with the president's words, though I already knew he had faith in me," confessed Allegri.

"He proved that by not firing me after seven rounds! We are in good shape at the moment and hope to continue our form."