AC Milan vs Siena preview - Allegri focussed on league

Posted Saturday, December 17, 2011 by PA

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has urged his players to focus right now on the domestic front.

The Rossoneri, who take on Siena at the San Siro, were drawn against Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Milan are keen to improve their recent record in Europe, having been dumped out of the competition at the same stage last season by English opposition as they were beaten by Tottenham.

"We will have to prepare well for that tie but right now our only focus is on Serie A," Allegri said.

"Only in February will we think about Arsenal and the Champions League.

"We need to get as many points as possible in the league to remain high up in the standings.

"Our next two games are very important in terms of the table and my players are aware of it."

Milan, who end the year at Cagliari on Tuesday, lie third in the standings, two points behind Serie A leaders Juventus.

They drew 2-2 at Bologna last time out to extend their unbeaten run in Italy to nine games.

Siena, meanwhile, go into Saturday's encounter in buoyant mood after progressing to the last 16 of the Coppa Italia in midweek.

The Tuscan outfit beat Palermo in penalties after a 4-4 draw in Sicily on Tuesday.

"This was our best game of the year and we deserved to go through," Siena striker Pablo Gonzalez said.

"Now we must recover our strength because we face a huge challenge on Saturday."

Siena will be under pressure to get a result knowing that anything but a win could see them drop to the relegation zone.

Last weekend's 2-0 loss to Genoa - Siena's third consecutive defeat in Serie A - left Giuseppe Sannino's side 17th in the standings, just two points clear of Cesena.

The hosts will have to overcome the absence of defender Mario Yepes.

Yepes hurt his ankle during last weekend's 2-2 draw at Bologna and will be sidelined for 10 weeks.

This is a further setback for Allegri as defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Alessandro Nesta are also out injured.