Massimiliano Allegri insisted that AC Milan's early exit from the Coppa Italia was not a step backwards for his team given their promising position in Serie A. 

Milan, who were beaten finalists in the competition in 2024-25, were dumped out in the last 16 by Lazio, with Mattia Zaccagni's 80th-minute header sealing a 1-0 triumph on Thursday.

The result came just five days after the Rossoneri beat Maurizio Sarri's side by the same scoreline, ensuring they sit top of Serie A on goal difference ahead of Napoli. 

But Allegri is not overly concerned by his team's premature exit from the competition.

"No, absolutely not. Look, it's right to be angry, because an elimination in a knockout round is disappointing," Allegri told Sport Mediaset.

"But on the other hand we have to look forward, we have two Serie A games before we go to play the Supercoppa Italiana."

It was a match of few clear chances, with Lazio mustering just 0.55 expected goals (xG) from their 11 attempts.

Milan, meanwhile, generated chances worth only 0.97 xG. 

"Lazio won a game where we had more difficulties compared to Saturday, as we misplaced passes a few times in the first half to gift chances," Allegri added. 

"It was a static match, whoever broke the deadlock would win it, and we didn't take our chances, whereas we conceded on a corner where we could've certainly defended better.

"It was a moment when we were in control of the game, we made three or four cheap errors, giving away free kicks and corners.

"It happened against Cremonese and Pisa this season, when we are dominant and don't make it count, that becomes dangerous. We need to improve."