Massimiliano Allegri has launched an astonishing attack on Cesc Fabregas in the wake of AC Milan’s 1-1 draw with Como, labelling the young manager an ‘idiot’.
The managerial rivals met on Wednesday night as Milan hosted Fabregas’s Como at San Siro. with the pair exchanging hugs and smiles before kick off.
But tempers flared in the 80th minute when Fabregas left his technical area and pulled on the shirt of Milan star Alexis Saelemaekers, preventing the player from helping his team stop a Como attack.
A furious Allegri raged at the former Arsenal and Chelsea star, with his furious reaction seeing him sent off by the referee. Fabregas was only awarded a yellow card for his role in the bust up.
The Como manager apologised for his unsporting conduct in his post-match press conference. As he was leaving the media room, he ran into Allegri, who was due to front the awaiting press himself.
But as they crossed paths, Allegri directed a stinging tirade at his rival.
Cesc Fabregas has been brandished ‘an idiot’ by rival manager Massimiliano Allegri
The pair exchanged pleasantries before AC Milan vs Como but tempers flared after Fabregas cynically prevented a Milan player from chasing down his Como star
‘You are a child… you are an idiot! A child who became a coach yesterday,’ Allegri shouted, as reported by Tuttomercato.
Allegri later said ‘next time I see someone run past me, I’ll just go into a sliding tackle.’
Fabregas issued a grovelling apology after the final whistle, saying: ‘I apologise, it was just a little touch and Allegri’s response was exaggerated, but I admit I shouldn’t have done it.
‘It was unsporting behaviour, as Cristian Chivu said the other day, we’ve got to keep our hands to ourselves, especially if you are a coach.
‘I would’ve got angry too, so I can only apologise and say I hope it never happens again in my career.’
It’s been a dramatic few days for the young Como manager, who launched a stunning attack on his own player after their 2-1 defeat by Fiorentina on Saturday.
Veteran striker Alvaro Morata, a former team-mate of Fabregas’s at Chelsea, was sent off after an act of dissent saw him awarded a second yellow at a pivotal moment of the Serie A contest.
An incensed Fabregas told Morata he ‘should play another sport’ if he is unable to control his emotions.
Fabregas said: ‘Provocation is part of football, those who can’t live with that should play another sport.
‘I expect much more from an experienced player like him. We can’t make excuses, though, and we can’t allow for what other people do on the pitch to affect us.’
The Spaniard joined Como on loan from AC Milan in the summer but he has only scored one goal in 18 games.
Como are enjoying a remarkable sophomore season in Serie A under Fabregas and are well in contention for European football.
Fabregas apologised at full time but Allegri made his feelings unequivocally clear
But Fabregas was irritated after this loss, also saying: ‘I’m annoyed that I wasn’t able to help the boys understand the importance of the game.
‘I showed them my experience as a footballer during the week, maybe too much, but it wasn’t enough. We’re a young team.
‘It wasn’t a football match in the second half. Leaving that aside, the game has to be won with the right motivation and energy. I feel bad as a coach, because I wasn’t able to convey this to my players today.
‘Maybe it was in our heads. We made a mistake in our attitude, we have to show more desire and be better in attack if we want to play our game.
‘In 72 hours, we’ll play in San Siro and then against Torino, and this is a good thing to look forward to after this game.’
