News Focus
- AC Milan suffer stunning 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari on season’s final day
- Loss costs Rossoneri place in next season’s Champions League
- Como overtake Milan to secure European spot as hosts collapse
- Alexis Saelemaekers opened scoring after 80 seconds but Milan conceded twice
- Max Allegri defends squad despite fifth home defeat of campaign
Max Allegri has acknowledged that nobody foresaw AC Milan’s disastrous final-day collapse against Cagliari, which has condemned the club to miss out on Champions League football next season.
The Rossoneri entered the last round of Serie A fixtures in control of their own destiny. A victory at the San Siro against mid-table Cagliari would have guaranteed a top-four finish. Alexis Saelemaekers gave the hosts a dream start with a goal inside the opening 80 seconds, suggesting a comfortable afternoon lay ahead.
However, Milan’s defence crumbled. Gennaro Borrelli levelled for the visitors before Juan Rodriguez struck from a dead-ball situation to complete the turnaround. The Diavolo could not find a response.
The result leaves Milan in sixth place. Como climbed above them in the standings, ensuring the seven-time European champions will compete in a lesser continental competition next term.
“We cannot alter the outcome now,” Allegri told DAZN Italia. “When you lose five matches at home in this manner, you find yourself in this predicament.”
The manager added: “The beginning was promising. We believed scoring early would secure the result, but we defended poorly, particularly for their first goal.”
Despite the devastating outcome, Allegri refused to criticise his players. He praised their commitment throughout the campaign, insisting they had given their all in the pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The defeat marks a bitter end to a disappointing run for Milan, who have now lost three of their final four matches. Questions regarding the club’s leadership structure remain unanswered, with uncertainty surrounding the roles of Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, chief executive Giorgio Furlani, and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Allegri admitted he is uncertain about his future at the club. He described his current emotions as a mix of disappointment and anger, particularly given the optimism following last week’s victory over Genoa.
“This is sport,” he stated. “We must accept the outcome and assess the entire campaign. Errors were made, but my players delivered what they could on the pitch this year.”