Bologna vs AC Milan preview - Allegri has confidence in players

Posted Saturday, September 01, 2012 by PA

Massimiliano Allegri is convinced his new recruits have what it takes to rectify AC Milan's poor start as they travel to Bologna in Serie A.

The growing murmurs of dissatisfaction surrounding the Rossoneri camp became clearly audible on Sunday as newly-promoted Sampdoria claimed a smash-and-grab victory at the San Siro.

The surprise defeat followed a summer of uncertainty in the red half of Milan as last year's runners-up shed a host of veterans and star performers.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva were sold to Paris St Germain, with Clarence Seedorf, Filippo Inzaghi, Alessandro Nesta and Mark van Bommel just a handful of older players to be shown the door.

But Allegri believes his work in the final week of the transfer window, which has seen Roma striker Bojan Krkic, M'Baye Niang of Caen and Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong sign up to his new-look outfit, will be enough to guarantee a better result at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

He told acmilan.com: "With the Cassano-Pazzini swap we secured our alternative to Pato.

"We still needed to strengthen the squad and Bojan can play in the same position. De Jong will be with us, he will be on the bench and can play if we need him to.

"(Stephan) El Shaarawy and (Giampaolo) Pazzini will play up front with (Kevin-Prince) Boateng just behind. Niang is also available.

"The squad will improve over time as the players get to know each other better."

Allegri urged fans to forget about past glories and back the players in their quest to earn three points against Bologna.

"The philosophy of the last few years hasn't changed. Ibrahimovic was a very useful striker but to win games we still need a whole team of champions," he added.

"I know that the team has been dismantled and we have started from scratch, bringing players with different qualities into a young-looking side.

"There are some players who still need to improve and forget about the Milan side of last May.

"We didn't deserve to lose against Sampdoria, but we paid for being careless."

Bologna are expected to field their latest signing, former Genoa striker Alberto Gilardino, against Allegri's side.

Coach Stefano Pioli told bolognafc.it: "From Saturday we will be totally competitive, I'm extremely confident that we will do our best to get results.

"I want to see a performance full of intensity, pressure, concentration, with a convincing display of attacking prowess.

"Milan's squad affords them so many different options, especially in midfield, so we have even greater cause to apply ourselves and not allow them the space and time to get into our area."