AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri and Como manager Cesc Fàbregas traded harsh words after the match, raising tensions. As the two sides offered conflicting accounts of a bench clash that occurred during the game, the controversy continued.
Italy's SportMediaset reported on the 19th (Korea time) that Allegri and Fàbregas engaged in a heated exchange after the Milan-Como matchup.
AC Milan and Como 1907 drew 1-1 in their 2025-2026 Serie A round 25 match held on the 19th. The incident began with a scene near the touchline late in the second half. When Alexis Saelemaekers was attempting a counterattack, there was an attempt to stop him from Como's bench side, and in the process the two teams' benches became entangled and a clash occurred.
After the match Allegri said in an interview, "I think there was a foul. At the moment Saelemaekers was trying to counterattack, there was a scene where someone on Como's bench pulled him. Next time should I also go onto the touchline and slide?" expressing his displeasure.
He added, "I only went to protect the player and nothing serious happened," but it was reported that strong words were exchanged outside the stadium as well.
By contrast, Fàbregas acknowledged his actions and bowed first. He publicly apologized, saying, "I behaved unsportsmanlike. I touched the ball with my hand to prevent Milan from restarting play, and I hope this does not happen again." The situation escalated further when Allegri was sent off during the bench clash.
When asked whether Allegri had accepted his apology, Fàbregas reiterated his remorse. He said, "I know it was an excessive reaction, but I was wrong. I would have been angry in the same situation," and added, "I have already apologized to Allegri and some Milan players. I hope this never happens again."
Regarding the match itself, he expressed satisfaction with his team's performance. He said, "It is significant to have played like this away at San Siro. The players showed mature game management," and assessed, "I think we were better than Milan today." He then emphasized focus on the next match, saying, "Now attention must turn to the Juventus game."
Meanwhile, it was reported that the tension between Allegri and Fàbregas had continued after their first meeting. With this clash added, the relationship between the two managers has entered an even more tense state, and there is a possibility that emotional confrontations will continue in future matchups.
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