Massimiliano Allegri insists he has full faith in his AC Milan squad after speaking ahead of Sunday’s Serie A trip to Atalanta.
The Rossoneri were tipped to do plenty of business in January but to date have signed just former Parma defender Cristian Zaccardo and secured half of Kevin Constant’s economic rights from Genoa.
However, their coach highlighted the upturn in form of Ignazio Abate, Robinho and Mathieu Flamini – three players expected to depart San Siro – as reasons why he is not desperate to reinforce his party.
“I’m happy with the players that I have as I see them growing every day – both as individuals and as a team. I’m very happy with El Shaarawy’s performance on Sunday,” Allegri said at a press conference.
“A drought happens to all players and it shouldn’t become an obsession. The club knows what I feel about the number of players we have in the squad and we’ll see what happens at the end of the month.
“Abate played well on Sunday and I was happy with that. I have two great players on the right, but I haven’t decided who is first choice yet.
“Robinho is training well and he’s a great player. From here until June, Milan need the real Robinho and I’m very happy that he is staying.
“Flamini is proof that over the course of the year, all players will get their chance and they’re all important. I’m happy as when I called on him he was ready, just like Traore and Niang.”
Kaka had also been expected to return to the club – only for a deal to collapse – but Allegri reiterated his encouragement with the signs of growth his team have shown.
“We already have 22 players so if another one comes in, then someone has to leave,” he added. “The Kaka situation is complicated and I think only Galliani can solve it.
“There have been market moves with Zaccardo coming in, Mesbah going to Parma and Acerbi to Genoa. When I say 22 players, I mean 22 players available to me.
“De Jong and Didac Vila are not available at the moment, but the club is working well and there is the intention, if the possibility presents itself, to improve the squad.
“Pazzini is going well. He has 10 goals in the first half of the season after almost three months of inactivity and a knee problem after the match against Bologna. I have four goalkeepers and I have faith in all four.
“I think that Boateng has done well as a midfielder, though he still has room for improvement.”
Turning his attentions to Atalanta, who inflicted a surprise 1-0 defeat on Milan in the reverse fixture earlier this season, the 45-year-old hopes his side can prove that they have matured by earning a positive result in Bergamo.
“I think the first eight games were necessary to help make a team that needed to be moulded,” Allegri noted. “Tomorrow’s game will be much tougher than the home match [which ended 1-0 to Atalanta].
“They’re very well organised at home and Colantuono is doing a great job. The pitch won’t be in the best of conditions so it won’t be a technically great game.
“It’ll be the usual game that you play in Bergamo. We had some problems here last year as well. We have yet to score from a corner even though we’ve come close.
“At the moment the team is in good shape physically with some young players in the side who want to do well.
“But we still have to improve and understand the changes in dynamics of a match which is something that will come with time.”