Bitter Old Lady
Allegri says referee should have allowed Pjanic’s goal to stand
Milan: Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri slammed refereeing officials after seeing Miralem Pjanic’s goal chalked off as the champions were stunned 10 by AC Milan in a San Siro sizzler.
The Turin giants had beaten Milan in the sides’ last nine meetings and, in front of 75,829 spectators, showed throughout a stirring encounter why they are being tipped to claim a record sixth consecutive scudetto title at the end of the season.
But Juve’s failure to find a way past Milan’s teenaged goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Donnarumma proved costly, and the visitors were given few favours by referee Nicola Rizzoli on their way to a second successive San Siro setback just over a month after suffering a 21 reverse to Inter Milan.
Pjanic looked to have finally broken the deadlock for the visitors when he spun away in delight to celebrate beating 17yearold Donnarumma with a rasping free kick just after the halfhour.
But the Bosnia midfielder’s joy was shortlived.
Milan players surrounded Rizzoli claiming offside and after consultation with his touchline official he cancelled the goal.
Allegri said: “It’s clear that our goal was valid. I shouldn’t say it, but everyone will say it.”
He suggested Milan’s protests had influenced the officials’ decision.
“The first protests from Milan certainly put the pressure on, but we should focus on playing: anyway, this result shouldn’t alter the path we’re on.”
Juve remain top but their second loss of the league campaign has added a new, dramatic twist to this season’s fight for the Serie A title.
Milan moved up to second to sit only two points adrift to signal their return to the fray after several seasons struggling to keep pace and falling down the pecking order in Europe.
Now, Milan fans can look ahead with wellearned optimism.
Coach Vincenzo Montella’s decision to inject his ageing side with former youth team players is paying dividends so far, and was given a further boost by Manuel Locatelli’s stunning secondhalf strike that beat Gianluigi Buffon in the 65th minute.
Montella, known as L’Aeroplanino (The Little Airplane) for the way he celebrated scoring goals while with AS Roma, had spent the past few seasons trying to hammer Fiorentina into titlecontending shape.
He walked away from the club last year after a dispute with owner Andrea Della Valle, but has returned to Italy’s top flight on a mission.
After a bumpy start, the 42yearold has transformed the hopes and dreams of a club that has been on a rollercoaster ride since even before Allegri, who led Milan to their last league title in 2011, was sacked in the wake of a stunning defeat to Sassuolo in January 2014.