AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri reserved special praise for Luka Modric following the Rossoneri’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Pisa SC in Serie A on Saturday night, February 14, 2026 (local time).
The experienced Croatian midfielder proved decisive once again, scoring a late winner that secured three crucial points for Milan and underlined his growing influence both on the pitch and inside the dressing room.
“Beyond his extraordinary technical quality, what stands out is his desire to win until the very last minute,” Allegri said after the match. “Everyone in this squad should learn from his character and his incredible humility.”
The Milan coach added that Modric’s presence is invaluable, especially for the younger players in the squad.
“We’re very happy to have him here. Our young players must take full advantage of the opportunity to work alongside someone like Luka,” Allegri continued.
Modric’s performance earned him the Serie A Man of the Match award, while his goal also placed him in the history books as the third-oldest goalscorer in Serie A history, finding the net at 40 years and 157 days.
A Familiar Pattern That Still Worries Allegri
Despite the victory, Allegri admitted the match followed a worrying pattern that Milan have experienced several times this season. After taking the lead through a well-placed header from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the Rossoneri gradually came under pressure.
The situation became more complicated when Niclas Fullkrug failed to convert a penalty, striking the post instead of doubling Milan’s advantage. Moments later, Felipe Loyola punished a defensive lapse to bring Pisa level, putting Milan under serious strain.
“It wasn’t an easy night,” Allegri acknowledged. “Pisa are an uncomfortable team to play against. They look like they’re just defending and doing very little, but then they counter-attack quickly and catch you off guard, like they did with their goal.”
“So yes, we’re taking home three points, but after a performance like this, we clearly need to improve,” he added.
Milan Extend Historic Unbeaten Run
With the win, AC Milan extended their unbeaten streak in Serie A to 23 matches, currently the longest active run across Europe’s top five leagues. They also remain the only side capable of keeping pace with league leaders Inter Milan in the title race.
Allegri, however, warned that consistency remains a challenge.
“This team has technical quality, but at times we slow down mentally. That’s an area where we still need to raise our level,” he explained.
“A season can change in the space of a week. This was our sixth away match in the last nine games, so this victory should not be underestimated at all.”
Tactical Adjustments and Modric’s Decisive Moment
After Pisa equalized, Allegri reacted by introducing Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão, increasing Milan’s attacking options alongside Fullkrug. The changes helped shift the momentum back in Milan’s favor.
Once Modric scored the decisive goal, Allegri adjusted again, withdrawing Fullkrug and bringing on Koni De Winter to restore balance—especially after Adrien Rabiot was shown a red card for excessive protests toward the referee.
Regarding Fullkrug’s missed penalty, Allegri remained calm and supportive.
“Penalties can be missed. It was an important moment, but these things happen,” he said. “Pulisic and Leão came on with the right attitude, and having three attackers like that gives us different solutions during the match.”
Rabiot Suspension Adds to Derby Concerns
Rabiot had already been set to miss the upcoming league match against Como due to yellow-card accumulation. The red card, however, means the French midfielder will also be suspended for the highly anticipated Derby della Madonnina against Inter Milan—a significant blow for Allegri’s midfield plans.
Allegri Focused on Points, Not Rivals
When asked whether he hoped to see Inter Milan or Juventus drop points in their respective big matches, Allegri refused to be drawn into comparisons.
“The most important thing is that we took three points,” he said. “We’re now on 53 points, which means we’re one step closer to achieving our objectives.”
For Allegri, the victory over Pisa was not just about maintaining league position—it was a reminder of the mentality required to compete at the highest level. And in that regard, Luka Modric stands as the perfect example for the entire AC Milan squad to follow.
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