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Max Allegri Fires Back At Christian Vieri Over Rafael Leao Question As AC Milan Go Top Of Serie A
Massimiliano Allegri wasn’t in the mood for easy questions after AC Milan’s 2-1 win over Fiorentina sent them top of Serie A for the first time in more than a year. The Italian tactician delivered a fiery response to Christian Vieri, who questioned his decision to start Rafael Leao instead of Santi Gimenez and challenged his management of the game’s penalty situation.
Allegri’s Tactical Reply To Vieri
When Vieri asked why Gimenez didn’t start alongside Leao, Allegri shot back with a cheeky but pointed response:
“If I had you on the bench, maybe I would have started with Gimenez.”
Allegri explained his reasoning, emphasizing the importance of having attacking options ready to change the game.
“Games last 95 minutes. If I didn’t even have a striker on the bench… I had to read the game. I was lucky, and it went well for me.”
The Milan boss added that he wanted to keep the team balanced early on and only introduced Gimenez after seeing the right tactical moment—following a Fiorentina corner and a yellow card for Zachary Athekame.
Penalty Drama? Allegri Says ‘No Confusion’
Leao’s late penalty in the 86th minute sealed the victory for Milan, but questions arose about who was meant to take it. Allegri, however, dismissed the talk of uncertainty:
“There was no confusion. I told Rafa to take the penalty: he had tried them and he had taken them well.”
When asked if he watched the spot-kick, Allegri jokingly replied:
“Didn’t I watch him? I never watch them.”
It was Leao’s first Serie A goal at the San Siro in 512 days, and the Portuguese star was central to Milan’s comeback, equalizing earlier with a stunning curling strike after Robin Gosens put Fiorentina ahead.
Manager Applauds Team’s Resilience
Despite conceding first, Allegri praised his players’ mentality and response:
“The team played a good game. Until the goal, we hadn’t allowed a single shot on target. After conceding, there was a good reaction—it wasn’t easy, and we’re happy about that.”
The stats back him up: Fiorentina registered only one shot on target all game, underlining Milan’s defensive control and tactical discipline even without injured stars Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic.
AC Milan Back On Top
With this victory, AC Milan climb to the top of Serie A—one point clear of rivals Inter Milan. Allegri’s fiery exchange with Vieri may dominate headlines, but his tactical nous and trust in Leao proved decisive.
It was a night that summed up Allegri’s Milan—gritty, clever, and capable of striking back when it matters most.
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**Title:** Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic **Meta Description:** Slaven Bilic has been appointed Croatia head coach for a second spell after Zlatko Dalic stepped down following the 2026 World Cup. **Slug:** croatia-confirm-slaven-bilic-return-head-coach **Alt Image Text:** Slaven Bilic during his unveiling as Croatia national team head coach — # Croatia confirm Slaven Bilic return as former West Ham boss replaces Zlatko Dalic Croatia have officially confirmed the return of Slaven Bilic as head coach, with the former West Ham United manager replacing Zlatko Dalic following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bilic returns to the national team after more than a decade away, ending a two-year absence from management as he begins a second spell in charge of his country. ## Bilic begins a second spell with Croatia The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) announced Bilic’s appointment after the Executive Committee unanimously approved the recommendation of federation president Marijan Kustic. Bilic previously managed Croatia between 2006 and 2012, guiding the national team through two European Championships before embarking on a successful club coaching career that included spells with West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion, Besiktas and Al-Ittihad. The federation believes his experience and deep understanding of Croatian football make him the ideal candidate to lead the next generation. ## Huge task replacing Zlatko Dalic Bilic succeeds one of the most successful managers in Croatia’s history. Dalic stepped down after the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a remarkable tenure that included a World Cup final, a World Cup semi-final and several memorable tournament campaigns. Federation president Marijan Kustic acknowledged the size of the challenge but expressed complete confidence in Bilic. > “I would like to once again thank Zlatko for the exceptional results he achieved during his tenure. It is not easy to follow in his footsteps, but we are convinced Slaven is the right person for this role.” Kustic added that Bilic’s international pedigree and extensive coaching experience were decisive factors behind the appointment. ## Bilic honoured to return Bilic described his return as the greatest honour of his coaching career and admitted he understands the expectations that come with leading one of international football’s most consistent tournament teams. > “I would like to thank President Kustic and the Federation’s leadership for the confidence they have shown in allowing me to lead the Croatian national team once again — the greatest honour for any Croatian coach.” The 57-year-old also praised the standards established under Dalic while insisting he is ready for the responsibility. > “I am fully aware of the high expectations that follow such a remarkable period under Zlatko Dalic, but anyone who takes charge of Croatia must be prepared for that because we are a football nation that lives and breathes its national team.” ## A new chapter begins Bilic now faces the task of building on Dalic’s legacy while preparing Croatia for the next international cycle. With a blend of experienced stars and emerging young talent at his disposal, Croatia will hope their returning manager can guide them to another successful era on the international stage.
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