Amy Lawrence

Massimiliano Allegri may not have been a globally recognised name when he was appointed coach of Milan in the summer of 2010, but anyone who felt a club of such stature demands a figurehead with instant clout overlooked its history of taking gambles. Remember the experiment with the Turk Fatih Terim? What about the spell with the Uruguayan Oscar Wáshington Tabárez?

Neither lasted more than a few months, it must be said. On the more successful side, a certain Fabio Capello was put in charge when he was a rookie coach with no experience beyond his playing career to bring to the party. And of course, there was the inimitable Arrigo Sacchi, a former shoe salesman and newcomer to Serie A when he landed at San Siro. Both of them won titles and European Cups with supreme conviction and a masterful team.

Allegri certainly had his work cut out when he was chosen to pick up the pieces of a stuttering side that had been forced to paddle in the slipstream of the neighbours for a few uncomfortable years. Allegri arrived the month after Internazionale paraded around town with the treble, which only emphasised the size of the task in hand. His pedigree may have been limited, with five seasons of a coaching apprenticeship in Serie C1 and C2, then a couple of impressive campaigns with Cagliari drawing the attention of Milan, but he had an instant impact. Like Sacchi and Capello, Allegri conquered Serie A in his first season with the club. The man was likeable, understated, had worked his way up the ladder, and outside the obvious rivals the Italian game was genuinely pleased to congratulate Allegri on his success. His name does not mean cheerful for nothing.

Franco Baresi, a Milan totem, summed up the kind of impression he made: «At the start we were all curious to see what a guy like him could give to a group of big players,» said the former defender. «He got the most out of all of them and established a great relationship with the club. Max is a mix between Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Capello, because he has qualities similar to both.»

That is a heady comparision as far as the history of Milan is concerned, but Allegri faces a challenge to create sustained success. His second season is proving a little more troubling than his first. An avalanche of injuries are taking their toll.

Since Inter ended their three-month undefeated streak in the league Milan’s form has dipped. In recent weeks they lost at Lazio, drew at home to Napoli in a game that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off for slapping an opponent, and lost 2-1 at home in the first leg of the Coppa Italia showdown with Juventus, who are a point ahead of them at the top of Serie A. If that was supposed to be a pointer to what lay in store in the race for the scudetto, Juve won with an experimental line-up, resting several first choices, and played the brighter football. Milan were left worried about the state of their options and the sluggishness in their game, and fearful that they are losing the winning mentality forged last season.

With the Champions League resuming on Wednesday against Arsenal, the number of creative players that are sidelined is a continuing frustration. They have been feeling the absence of Antonio Cassano, Alberto Aquilani, Kevin Prince Boateng and Alexandre Pato, although the latter pair hope to return for the Champions League. Ibrahimovic’s availability in Europe, even though he is serving a domestic ban, is vital, and fans would be encouraged to see a spot for the fresh-faced teenager Stephan El Shaarawy.

Allegri has felt moved to ensure nobody begins to panic yet. «We have lost a few too many times recently, but we must remain calm and confident about our own strength,» he said. «We have lost so many players and many others have not been able to get proper rest. We must continue to work to get out of this situation.»

So it was telling to hear the following words spoken at the highest level: «The team needs to feel the support of our fans. This should not be a time of controversy and criticism.» That was not said by anyone at the Emirates Stadium, but by Barbara Berlusconi, daughter of the club’s owner Silvio and a member of Milan’s board.

Although Arsenal arrive with their own issues, Milan are aware that they have been knocked out of the Champions League by English opposition at this stage in three of the last four seasons, by Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal. Arsène Wenger is urging his team to emulate what they achieved in 2008, when a bold performance inspired by Cesc Fábregas unseated the reigning European champions. «I remember that even Milan said that the better team won. So let’s keep that in our memory and repeat the same performance,» said Wenger. «We play against a team with a lot of experience with players like Van Bommel, Seedorf, Ibrahimovic and Robinho. These are all players who have a lot of experience at the very top level. But we need to go there and play without any complexity.»

This is a tie both coaches are desperate not to lose.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/11/massimiliano-allegri-milan-arsenal-champions-league