MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Max Allegri insists Milan must see the 1-1 draw with Como as ‘a valuable point’ for the top four, and explains why Cesc Fabregas sparked the situation for his red card.
This Week 24 fixture had been postponed from February 8 because San Siro was being used for the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, but plans for months to move it to Australia were shelved.
Instead, it was just put back by 10 days, and Como took the lead when Nico Paz pounced on a Mike Maignan howler, but Rafael Leao cancelled it out with a fantastic lob on the Ardon Jashari ball over the top.
Allegri looks on the bright side for Milan
“It was not an easy match against Como, who in the first half took advantage of a mistake during a balanced encounter,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.
“Errors can happen, the team reacted well and could’ve made more of other opportunities that we created. We have gained a point on Juventus, Napoli and Roma, so we just need to focus on getting back to winning ways against Parma this weekend.”
Milan are still unbeaten in 24 Serie A rounds, since the opening weekend against Cremonese, but now slide seven points adrift of leaders Inter.
“It was a very balanced and at times even dull game in the first half. We attacked the line well, Leao scored a great goal and Jashari put in a wonderful pass. We’ve got to stay calm, keep working, get players back from injury. We had Saelemaekers and Pulisic back off the bench today, Fullkrug did well as a substitute as always.
“We are currently on track for our objective, and this is a very useful point to achieve those aims.”
The gap with leaders Inter is opening up and this can take some of the pressure off the Nerazzurri going into the Derby della Madonnina next month.
“Football is wonderful because there’s always something unexpected from one day to the next. All we can do is keep working, trying to continue the unbeaten run, and above all get back to winning ways so we can maintain the gap from the chasing pack,” insisted the Milan coach.
Allegri and the Como team manager were both sent off for a tense row on the touchline during the second half, but it wasn’t entirely clear what had sparked it.
“I think there was a foul with Saelemaekers who was on the counter, he was pulled I think by Fabregas. If that’s allowed, then next time someone runs by me, I’ll go into a sliding tackle,” joked Allegri.
“Saelemaekers reacted angrily, I went over there trying to defend my player, then someone came up to me, but nothing really happened.”
The footage shows that there were three players right on the touchline battling for the ball, Fabregas pushed Saelemaekers in the back with the ball in play, but Allegri was penalised for leaving his technical area.
Strahinja Pavlovic was substituted at half-time after struggling with a knock, so are there any updates on the Milan defender?
“Fortunately, Pavlovic is fine.”