Allegri staying positive

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed his team’s character after they came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Udinese on Wednesday.

A calamitous error by goalkeeper Christian Abbiati and an early injury to Alexandre Pato handed the advantage to Udinese, but a goal just after the hour mark by Stephen El Sharawy secured a point for the hosts.

The result leaves Milan still searching for their first win of the

season, having picked up two points from their opening three games.

But Allegri said his side showed resilience to respond from their early setbacks and felt they got what they deserved from a hard-fought encounter.

“I think that Milan played a better game tonight and deserved the point,” Allegri told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

“We were at a disadvantage due to our goalkeeper’s accident, then we lost Pato, but the team demonstrated great maturity and did not give them anything in the second half.”

“I told the guys to stay calm, to play with patience and not to expose themselves on the counter attack, and they did that and had a good second-half.”

Aleegri, 44, also lamented the loss of Pato to a suspected hamstring problem.

“For Pato, I hope it’s nothing serious, but we’ll have to make do,” he said. “It is not a good time, we have 12 players out and play every three days.”