Massimiliano Allegri has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role of Italy’s national team manager, but the AC Milan coach stated on Saturday that he has not considered it, prioritising the task of returning his team to the Champions League.
Gennaro Gattuso stepped down from his position as Italy’s manager on Friday following his team’s defeat to Bosnia in the World Cup playoff, marking the third consecutive failure to qualify for the tournament for the four-time champions. Additionally, FIGC president Giuseppe Gravina has also announced his resignation.
Ahead of Monday’s Serie A match against Napoli, Allegri faced numerous inquiries regarding Italy’s qualification failures and his own managerial future during the press conference.
“As an Italian, I feel deeply saddened by the inability to qualify, but we must view this as a chance for development and establish a strategic vision for the next decade,” Allegri commented.
“Making assessments and determining the necessary actions… I believe there are qualified bodies that need to come together to evaluate everything from grassroots initiatives to the senior team.”
After returning to the Milan coaching staff last year, where he previously claimed the Scudetto, Allegri has guided his team to second place in the standings, six points adrift of Inter Milan and one point ahead of Napoli.
The 58-year-old, who achieved five league titles during his time at Juventus, was posed a question about the possibility of coaching Italy now or in the future.
“I embarked on a journey last year with Milan, and my focus now is on finishing the season strongly and securing a Champions League spot,” Allegri replied.
“I haven’t given it much thought. I’m content at Milan and hope to remain here for a long time.
“It has been a few years since I last participated in the Champions League; if we qualify and I’m still at the helm of Milan, I will need to reacquaint myself with the experience.”
When asked about his cautious phrasing concerning his future with Milan, Allegri remarked, “Life is unpredictable; you never know what might occur,” while smiling. “First, let’s aim for the Champions League, and then we will wait to see what happens.”
The top four teams secure spots in the Champions League, and Milan currently boasts a nine-point lead over fifth-placed Juventus with eight matches left to play.
Compiled by SportArena.au
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
