The Rossoneri boss vows to field his best team, and hints resting Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Lazio; hails Stephan El-Shaarawy
A.C Milan manager, Massimiliano Allegri, is looking forward to the Coppa Italia quarter-final against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775 at San Siro on Thursday, 26 January 2012.
The winner of the match will face Juventus in the semi-final, who are unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions this season. Milan and Lazio both are enjoying great runs in the league and are placed second and fifth, respectively.
Allegri is looking to ensure qualification to the next round, and insists that he will field his strongest team against the Biancazzurri. However, he is still coy over the inclusion of striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029, and insists that the striker might be rested for this game. The Swedish international has played regularly in the recent matches, and Allegri believes that he needs some rest.
While talking to the reporters, Allegri said,
“I’ll pick the best team possible, but it will be hard to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic start. Ibra is feeling good, he’s serene, but he’s not a robot and even he needs a break now and again.”
The 30-year-old striker is leading the goal-scoring charts in the 2011/12 Serie A, having scored 14 goals thus far.
Allegri also heaped praise on rookie striker, Stephan El-Shaarawy, for his impressive displays in the recent games. He insisted that the former Genoa star has improved a lot in the past two months.
“El Shaarawy is a different player to the one he was two months ago. He’s unexpectedly grown. He’s important, but he’s young. Let’s not put too much pressure on him.”
El-Shaarawy came off the bench to inspire his team to a 3-0 win over Novara in Milan’s last league game. The game was going goalless until the youngster inspired his team to a comeback. The 19-year-old also scored a goal in his side’s 2-1 win over Attilio Tesser’s men in the last 16 round of Coppa Italia recently.
Allegri is expected to shuffle his starting line-up once again, and the new signings, Djamel Mesbah and Alexander Merkel, might be handed a start at San Siro.
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