AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has insisted that he will not be distracted by speculation over his future at the San Siro, remaining focused on helping the Rossoneri halt an alarming start to the campaign.

Allegri has watched Milan fail to win any of their last four matches in all competitions, standing by as his position as Rossoneri coach has come under increasing threat following a poor run of form.

With the pressure on, Allegri has declared that victory against in-form Genoa this weekend is essential to Milan's chances of making up lost ground, as they look to rebound from losing five of their first 12 games in Serie A this season.

He told reporters: "I've been hearing these stories for four years. I know that I will not stay here for life, there are cycles that start and end.

"Coaches are not eternal. There are a lot of good Coaches in Italy who are growing.

"It's a fundamental game against Genoa. We are obliged to win and we can not afford to make any mistakes. We will be up against a side in excellent condition. We want to get back to winning ways since we haven't won since beating Udinese."

The Rossoneri lie four points off the relegation zone at this early stage of the Serie A campaign, 11 points away from a European qualification spot and well behind this evening's opponents Genoa.