Allegri fighting for first win

If AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is concerned by his side’s poor start to the Serie A season, he is not showing it.

After battling back from a goal down to draw with Udinese on Wednesday, Milan are still hunting their first win – picking up just two points from their first three Serie A matches.

And the coach has problems on the injury front, with Brazilian Alexandre Pato suffering a hamstring strain in the Udinese match.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also on the sidelines, and there are doubts over the fitness of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini.

But speaking ahead of their clash with Cesena at the San Siro on Saturday, Allegri said he was buoyed by the spirit his side showed against Udinese, and is confident good results will come with that attitude.

“We need to start with the spirit the team had against Udinese on Wednesday,” Allegri said.

“At the moment we don’t have many players and the guys we have are playing every three days, so we’ll have to perform like we did on Wednesday – paying great attention, because Cesena has a good defence and they are good on the counterattack.”

“They’re a well organised team. We need to be patient, trying to keep a clean sheet for the first time this year – that alone wouldn’t be so bad. We also need to play with intelligence and good technique.”

Allegri said his side had acquitted themselves against Udinese – who narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification after finishing fourth in Serie A last season – and singled out 18-year-old striker Stephen El Shaarawy, who scored the equaliser, for praise.

“The team deserved the draw, despite the difficulties we faced,” Allegri said.

“Their goal is the kind of goal that happens once in a while, not to say never, and then Pato got injured and the team broke up.”

“(Clarence) Seedorf missed a chance, hitting the upright, (Antonio) Nocerino missed another chance and (we missed) another one by (Ignazio) Abate.”

“We pressed Udinese in the second half and the equaliser came. After that we had a couple other chances to score and take the lead.”

“El Shaarawy is young – I don’t like numbers a lot, therefore I tend to forget them – but we should leave him alone and not overload him with too many responsibilities.”

“In general our young players should bring enthusiasm – and we’re definitely not lacking that – and recklessness.”