Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of Milan, spoke after the hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lazio in the 13th round of the Italian league. The match, held at San Siro stadium, was decided by a goal from Rafael Leão and crucial saves by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The victory gave Milan a temporary lead at the top of the standings, ahead of Roma and Napoli's matches tomorrow at the Olimpico, while Allegri, who was sent off in the sixth minute of added time, was satisfied with his team's performance.

At the beginning of his speech, Allegri said: "We played a match with two faces. In the first half, Lazio was better, and in the second half, we improved technically and created dangerous chances. We need to learn how to manage certain phases of matches better in order to build the foundations for a good season. It is important that everyone puts their individual abilities at the service of the team. This victory is not a final destination, just as the win in the derby was not either."

The coach continued speaking about Rafael Leão, saying: "Rafa has the qualities of a true striker. He is physically strong, knows how to protect the ball, and is also excellent in aerial play. He demonstrated this even when he was at Lille. It's true that he lost some of his rhythm, but he attacked the goal well—not just in the moment of scoring. He can still develop further."

Allegri added, commenting on Mike Maignan's performance: "With outstanding and strong players like him, winning becomes easier, and we are very happy to have him. Mike made an exceptional save against Gila; it was a really difficult shot. But I have to say that the entire team was excellent in rebuilding their enthusiasm."

The Milan coach concluded his statements by saying: "I am not thinking about the league title; these three points are very important for qualifying for the Champions League. This was the last direct match in the first half of the season, and now we have to focus on the last six matches and the Coppa Italia. So far, the standings are divided into two halves. It's a strange league, and we have to try to earn as many points as possible."