AC Milan end title hopes as Allegri sets new target

Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that AC Milan are no longer realistic contenders in the Serie A title race following a damaging 1-0 defeat to Napoli.

The Italian coach confirmed that the Rossoneri have now shifted their full attention to securing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, especially after his decision to rest key players such as Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao backfired at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

With the loss leaving Milan nine points behind leaders Inter Milan and two behind Napoli, Allegri delivered a blunt reality check about their domestic ambitions moving forward this season.

"The Scudetto race is not for us now, Inter are nine points away and Napoli are ahead now. We need to focus on ourselves, taking it one game at a time,” he told DAZN.

“We are right now on target for our objective, but it won’t be decided within a week or two, we need to maintain that advantage by trying to win games.

“Football is made of these situations, the whole team played pretty well. We allowed one (Leonardo) Spinazzola shot in the first half we shouldn’t have let him get through, then struggled with a few counter-attacks.”