Strahinja Pavlovic has endorsed a potential move from AC Milan for Dusan Vlahovic, as well as the idea of Massimiliano Allegri staying.
Pavlovic has some ups and downs in his first season with the club after arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in the 2024 summer window. This season however he has been much more consistent, and has even added goal scoring to his repertoire.
In truth a lot of the credit must go to Allegri for devising a defensive system that gets the best out of the Serbian, who operates on the left side of a three-man defence. This allows him to ‘detach’ and be a wild card at certain moments in attack.
With talk of a renewal in the air as a reward for a season of significant growth, Pavlovic sat down with Tuttosport to speak about a number of topics. He started by showing them photos of Tadija, the son he welcomed into the world just a few days ago.
When you failed your medical at Lazio at 18 due to a heart condition, were you afraid of quitting?
“A little, yes: that was a difficult time for me, but if I’m here now, it means everything worked out.”
Your role model?
“Nemanja Vidic.”
And which striker has bothered you the most?
“In this league, I’d say Lautaro and Thuram, but I still remember how difficult it was to mark Giroud when I played against Milan in the Champions League.”
Milan-Juve is also a derby between you and Vlahovic: have you heard from him?
“Yes, yes, we’re always in touch… Dusan is a great friend of mine and we text or talk almost every day. He’s a great player and a great person.
“Before coming to Milan, I asked him what Italy was like and I also had a chat about it with Milenkovic and Terzic. You know, a lot of my compatriots play here and I really like that.”
Your friend Dusan’s contract is expiring, would someone like him be useful to Milan?
“That’s not a question for me… But I can say he’s a great player with a lot of quality: when he’s in form, he’s number one, the best striker in the league and one of the best in the world.”
What’s it like marking him in training?
“It’s not easy… I even played against him in the first leg against Juve when he came on for the last twenty minutes.”
In the league, thanks to your injury, you’ve scored one more goal than Dusan: are you thinking of changing positions?
“I think I even played in attack when I was a kid. As a centre-forward but also as a number ten, and that helps me move around the penalty area… Maybe I could try again in the Serbian league, but here in Italy it’s too difficult.”
How did you end up at centre-back?
“First they demoted me to full-back, then to center back. I took it badly at first, but then I realised it was my path.”
Two goals against Cremonese – one in the first leg, the other in the return – one against Roma, and one against Torino. Which was the best?
“The best was the one against Torino, while the most important was the one scored in the last minute against Cremona: they seemed under duress.”
Is this new scoring feat partly due to Allegri, who uses you as a ‘surprise weapon’ in the opposition’s penalty area?
“He likes giving me this freedom to move forward to help in attack: this has always been a characteristic of mine and I like to exploit it. It also helps me to play as a ‘support’ in a three-man defence.
“With a four-man defence, it would be impossible to make those runs forward. Mike [Maignan] is a little less pleased with this, as he’s always yelling at me, ‘Pavlo, enough, stay back’.”
Allegri is also a master at coaching teams to defend: how has he improved you?
“In tactics, in knowing how to position myself on the pitch, and in understanding the right distances between us in defence. They’re all small things that make a difference, and he’s a master at teaching them.”
This also applies to his team-mates, given Milan’s defence is among the best in Europe today…
“Compared to last year, our way of playing has changed: now everyone focuses on the defensive phase and then, in the same way, everyone attacks as a block.”
How’s your relationship with Allegri?
“I really like him, and I like the fact that he’s keen to talk to everyone. You can tell he knows how to build a team.”
Does he call you Strahinja?
“No, no, just Pavlo.”
Is it right that such a coach remains at Milan for your development?
“Yes, he’s very, very important to us. We all grew up with him, and it was only the first year. With more time to work, we’ll improve even more.”
What do you learn from training with Modric?
“Everything. He is an example in everything he does: in his personal life and on the pitch.”
Is there a team-mate who makes you a little angry?
“Odogu, in the last two or three months. He’s a great friend, you know, but it’s our business.”
Is it true that Juve were after you when you played for Partizan and also during your time at Salzburg?
“I don’t remember speaking to any of them, maybe my agent.”
Are you afraid of this Juventus attack?
“No, but we have great respect for them. We know what we have to do to face them, so let’s see what happens.”
Did you as a team explain why Milan performed so well against big teams but significantly less well against smaller teams?
“I think it was a mentality issue. This was only Allegri’s first year, and we still need time to grow. But the foundations are there, given that this Milan team has so many good, quality players.”
What would it mean to return to the Champions League?
“It’s the competition everyone wants to play in, but there are still five games to go and we still have to fight until the end to get there.”
You’ve traveled extensively around Europe: have you finally found a home at Milan?
“Yes, I like Milan… the people, the fans, the fashion, and even the food, of course. And I hope to stay at Milan for many years.”
It’s the year of the World Cup: how much does it hurt not to go?
“It hurts, it hurts so much…”
How exciting was Tadija’s birth?
“It was the most beautiful thing in the world: now I have no free time, simply because when I’m at home I always want to be with him. For now, nothing has changed, I just sleep a little less: my wife does all the… work.
“Besides, he has big feet: he got those from his dad. Maybe he’ll be a basketball player, who knows. A celebration for Tadija? I’m always ready…”