Massimiliano Allegri conceded Zlatan Ibrahimovic's sending off in AC Milan's goalless home draw against Napoli on Sunday was justified.
The Serie A holders were reduced to 10 men near the hour mark after Ibrahimovic lost his head and slapped Salvatore Aronica as he placed his right arm around the back of team-mate Antonio Nocerino.
Ibrahimovic is now facing the prospect of a lengthy ban as a result of his action, but Allegri said he was not worried about missing his star striker.
"I am pleased with (referee Nicola) Rizzoli," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. "I had not seen anything at the time, but after watching it on TV Ibra deserved to be sent off."
"I am not worried about his absence, regardless of the fact that he is a key player for us."
Despite Milan failing to win for the second straight game, Allegri said he was satisfied with his side's display.
"It was important to turn in a good display against a team that was able to cause us problems," he said.
"Then we were reduced to 10 men, but we did not stop playing. This point has allowed us to recover the spirit that we must have to target the Scudetto."
"Of course that we have to improve in certain situations, but we did not run many risks, even when we were a man down."
Milan failed to take advantage of Juventus' goalless draw against Siena, and still trail the league leaders by one point having played one game more.
"Juve are not breaking away, because they are just one point ahead," Allegri said. "Even if they win that other match, the gap is not a concern."
| # | Jucător | Avertismente |
|---|---|---|
| 32 |
C. Abbiati
|
|
| 5 | P. Mexès |
 78'
|
| 77 | L. Antonini | |
| 33 | Thiago Silva | |
| 20 | I. Abate | |
| 4 | M. van Bommel |
13'
|
| 28 | U. Emanuelson |
75'
|
| 10 |
C. Seedorf
|
40'
|
| 22 | A. Nocerino | |
| 70 |
Robinho
|
|
| 11 | Z. Ibrahimovic |
 64'
|
| Antrenor: M. Allegri | ||
| # | Jucător | Avertismente |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. De Sanctis |
63'
|
| 6 |
S. Aronica
|
|
| 18 | C. Zúñiga | |
| 28 | P. Cannavaro |
88'
|
| 14 | H. Campagnaro | |
| 20 |
B. Džemaili
|
|
| 11 | C. Maggio | |
| 23 | W. Gargano | |
| 17 | M. Hamšík | |
| 7 | E. Cavani |
60'
|
| 22 | E. Lavezzi | |
| Antrenor: W. Mazzarri | ||
| # | Jucător | Avertismente |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
for C. Abbiati 46' |
|
| 23 |
for C. Seedorf 76' |
|
| 21 |
for Robinho 86' |
|
| 15 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 25 | ||
| 92 |
| # | Jucător | Avertismente |
|---|---|---|
| 88 |
for B. Džemaili 75' |
|
| 29 |
for S. Aronica 81' |
|
| 8 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 21 | ||
| 83 | ||
| 85 |
