We deserved more, says Allegri

10 January 2013 09:11

AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri refused to be downbeat despite the 2-1 loss to Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.

A Mirko Vucinic strike in extra time was enough to send Milan out of the tournament at the quarter final stage after the sides could not be separated over 90 minutes.

Allegri was happy with the performance but felt they were let down by some poor finishing at crucial moments.

"We put in a good technical performance against a great team, we didn't concede much, the guys played well and finished it well," he said.

"It's a pity to leave the competition like this, because seeing how the game progressed the fairer result would have been the draw and leave everything to penalties.

"We had a chance in the 87th minute to score with a header by (M'Baye) Niang, then in the 120th with (Bakaye) Traore, then another right after it. Perhaps it's fate hat it ended up like it did."

The Milan manager was unimpressed with the referee who he insisted wrongly awarded Juventus a free-kick that resulted in a Sebastian Giovinco equaliser in the first half.

"There wasn't a free kick there, but Giovinco struck it very well and sometimes actions like these are decisive for a match," he said.

Allegri also refused to react to criticism of his selection which saw him field a young side including 19-year-old defender Mattia De Sciglio and 18-year-old Niang or his choice to bring on striker Bojan Krkic in the second half.

"The third substitution always depends on who manages to continue playing, but Bojan entered the pitch and played well. I'm happy with his performance," he said.

"We're sorry because our team played well, but we can only leave the competition strengthened after such a good performance.

"We finished the match with a player born in 1994 and one in 1993 onto the pitch, and I think we're the only team in the world that plays with such young players."