Allegri: ‘We will be playing against the title favourites’

Max Allegri maintains that Inter are still the favourites for the title this season ahead of tomorrow’s Derby D’Italia. The top two in the Serie A table face off in Turin, with Allegri still adamant that the Nerazzurri are the team most likely to lift the title in May:

“We will play against the favourites for the Scudetto. They said so. We’re preparing well, the national team is back in condition. However, tomorrow’s match is very important for us. Inter? Simone is doing a great job, they passed the Champions League round and they’re first. We’ll have to be very good, we’re finally playing. Tomorrow is an important stage.”

“Injuries? Danilo will be back for Monza I think, Alex Sandro is there. Locatelli I have to evaluate whether to play him from the start. Weah won’t be there: let’s see when he returns.”

“First place? Tomorrow nothing changes for us, we have to want to beat them like we did against Cagliari or other teams. Matches change in one way or another: you have to interpret them. Inter are favourites and I think Milan and Napoli will fight with them: we must continue to desire things. Then football is variable and there are unexpected things. We must not lose certainties”.

“Chiesa-Vlahovic up front? Chiesa played well in the national team, playing good matches. Vlahovic is doing well as are Kean and Milik, I’ll decide tomorrow on the second of the latter three. I also have Miretti in case, I’ll have to evaluate tomorrow. Let’s see how Locatelli is, one will play in front of the defence”.

“Marotta is doing a very good job there at Inter, as he did here. He is also a good communicator. Vlahovic or Lautaro? I can hardly explain football, Vlahovic is of absolute value and will come back to score important goals. We are a solid, cohesive group that has to perform. We’ll be ready for it.”