Allegri admits Milan collapse has 'weighed on me' as he starts a new Napoli era

Massimiliano Allegri is not looking for redemption at Napoli despite still being troubled by the end of his second spell in charge of AC Milan.

Allegri was fired by Milan in May after what the club’s owners deemed “an unequivocal failure” of a season. The 58-year-old was hired by Napoli at the start of July on a three-year contract.

Allegri's Milan spent much of last season in the top two positions and fighting for the Serie A title before a run of only two wins in the last eight matches dropped it to fifth on the last day of the season and saw the Rossoneri miss out on the lucrative Champions League.

“It’s not a question of redemption; sometimes seasons just end a certain way. I’m disappointed by how things turned out last season,” Allegri said on Tuesday in his first press conference as Napoli coach. “We (Milan) were in the top three from Matchday 2 through Matchday 37; we only dropped out on the first and last matchdays, and the last one is the one that counts.

“I’m disappointed because, in all my time coaching — at Juventus and Milan — this was the first time I’ve finished outside the top four. And I won’t deny that it’s weighed on me.”

Allegri has a tough act to follow at Napoli as he replaces Antonio Conte, who left the southern club in May after two years in charge, during which his team finished first and second in the Italian league.

Allegri has replaced Conte before, when he became Juventus coach in 2014 after Conte steered the Bianconeri to three Serie A titles. Allegri went on to win five straight at Juventus as well as guiding the team to four Italian Cup titles and two Champions League finals.

“I am inheriting a squad that is certainly accustomed to hard work,” Allegri said about Napoli. “Conte has proven his worth throughout his career. I’m lucky, this is actually the second time I’ve inherited Antonio’s team — let’s hope it’s a good omen.

“It will be important to work with seriousness and professionalism, and above all to lay the groundwork for reaching March — as I always say that’s when seasons are decided — still in contention for all our objectives: Serie A, the Champions League, the Italian Cup.”

Milan replaced Allegri with Ruben Amorim, and at the Portuguese coach’s presentation team owner Gerry Cardinale referred to him as a coach who plays to win, rather than playing not to lose.

“I absolutely do not comment on the ownership’s words,” Allegri said. “I can only thank those who supported me all season. Then, unfortunately, we are sorry for the missed objectives.

"But another year begins, beautiful to experience, we have three competitions and we start with great enthusiasm.”

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FILE -AC Milan's head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari, in Milan, Italy, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, left, holds a club's jersey with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a presentation press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, left, pictured with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

The new SSC Napoli coach, Massimiliano Allegri, right, holds a club's jersey with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, during a presentation press conference at the San Carlo Theater, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

NEW DELHI (AP) — A fire broke out in a five-story building that houses several hotels in Kolkata in the early hours Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring six others in the capital of India’s West Bengal state, police said.

The blaze erupted around 1:45 a.m. in the building close to the West Bengal Fire Department headquarters in central Kolkata, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, describing the building as “dingy.”

Those killed included two women and a four-year-old child, police said. At least 80 people have been rescued from the building, according to the news agency, citing a senior official.

Koushik Chowdhury, a state minister, said after visiting the site that some among the dead were Bangladeshi nationals, PTI reported.

The minister said many of the victims were believed to have died from smoke inhalation. Several people were unable to escape to safety and some rooms lacked windows, he said, adding that rescue teams managed to save a couple from a room that had a window.

The government would conduct fire safety inspections at hotels across the state in the wake of the blaze, the minister said.

Authorities said the fire was brought under control and that their immediate focus was on rescuing anyone still trapped inside and investigating the cause of the fire, which was not immediately known.

Forensic experts were collecting evidence at the scene and an investigation was launched into the cause of the fire and whether safety regulations were followed, police told PTI.

Chowdhury said a short circuit may have caused the fire.

Firefighters struggled to reach people trapped on the upper floors as thick smoke engulfed the building, a police officer told the news agency.

Five fire engines were deployed to bring the blaze under control, while police and disaster management teams carried out rescue operations, the report said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.

On Monday, a blaze at a hotel in West Bengal’s temple town of Tarapith left at least seven people dead and several others critically injured.

In December, at least 25 people were killed after a fire ripped through a popular nightclub in western Goa state.

Members of the forensic team enter after first responders doused an early morning fire at a building that housed multiple hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Police and volunteers of disaster management group stand outside after dousing an early morning fire at a building that housed multiple hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

People gather outside after first responders doused an early morning fire at a building that housed multiple hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Onlookers watch from a distance after first responders doused an early morning fire at a building that housed multiple hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Fire brigade personnel stand at the entrance after dousing an early morning fire at a building that housed multiple hotels and guest houses in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Policemen and other officials stand near a hotel which caught fire early Wednesday in Kolkata, India, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)