The Rossoneri team is still a construction site but at this point of the season it is reductive to talk only about Champions League placement: the analysis of the group’s growth
No, they are not just two as Allegri indicates in the photo above. The things Max expects from his Milan restored edition 2025-26 are definitely more. Some are obligations, others are bets, still others are divided in half between intentions and inevitable paths. We have identified five (but there would be many more): where is Milan at and what is the coach missing?
the champions
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It is the very narrow funnel through which Max must pass if he wants to guarantee a peaceful stay at Milanello (also because in the event of failure, the stay itself would not be guaranteed). The way the coach has been addressing the topic since the beginning of the season, the final placement is a non-problem: the important thing is that it is not higher than fourth place (if Italy then gets its hands on an extra slot thanks to the ranking, the better for everyone). Between first and fourth, however, there is an imperceptible difference: second star shield or minimum wage required by the ownership. Up to now Max has never said the word scudetto openly, on the contrary: he is repeating over and over that Napoli and Inter are the favorites and that the real obligation for the Devil is to return to the Champions League. The clear aim is to free Milanello from the pressure as much as possible, handing it over to others. The problem is that Milan, at this point, cannot hide: the ranking, net of the difficulties with their lower-ranking opponents, is smiling. And the series of results brought home by the direct competitors inevitably authorizes leading thoughts, even if the bad exit from the Italian Cup and Super Cup has cooled the optimism. We need to regain defensive compactness and targeted additions to the market are needed. One – Fullkrug – has arrived, but it’s not enough.
the best defense
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It is the cornerstone, the cornerstone on which Allegri, as always, builds everything else. Even in this case, he is repeating it endlessly: in the end, in the vast majority of cases, the one who concedes the fewest goals wins, not the one who scores the most. Compared to last season, Max has put the defensive phase back on its feet: there is attention, there is compactness, there is a change in the system which has helped everyone. But the latest hiccups must not be underestimated: having conceded six goals in the last three outings after the previous six had been spread over seven games is a wake-up call. A few weeks ago, the coach said that to aspire to the championship you need to concede no more than 25 goals. Given the current progress of the tournament, we can allow ourselves a higher figure, but in the meantime the Devil is already at 13 in 15 games, weighed down by the four goals conceded between Turin and Sassuolo. With this average, at the end of the championship it would be 32-33 goals. Too many. Last year Napoli finished with 27, the previous season Inter with 22. We need to restore the ferocious attention of the first three months.
the rehabilitation of gimenez
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Rehabilitation not only in medical terms, but for status offensive. Santi needs to go back to explaining to the world that he is a center forward who knows how to score goals. He will have to wait until February, when he will re-emerge from the long stop after having had surgery on his ankle (there has also been talk of his transfer in January, but considering the injury it is an unlikely scenario). Allegri has always defended the Mexican in recent months, partly because this is what a coach usually does when one of his players is in difficulty, and partly because in fact Gimenez most of the time has guaranteed him an obscure but precious job. But, of course, that league goal tally which remains sadly immaculate is a boulder on Santi’s shoulders. Max’s goal? Having the Mexican back ready for the last segment of the tournament: as the coach always says, everything is decided from March onwards. Gimenez could be the extra weapon.
leao’s migration
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Work in progress, with Max who, however, does not limit himself to being an observer at the edges of the construction site: he is the first architect of the tactical changes that Rafa is called upon to make in his 3-5-2. Flares on the wing are not prohibited, but there must necessarily be something else. The Portuguese is learning, he is applying himself even if it remains a complex transition. This is one of Allegri’s biggest bets: when he takes it home – and “if” he takes it home – theupgrades for the Devil it will be gigantic. The goal is not out of reach: Leao has already scored some goals as a true center forward.
the goals of the midfield
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In recent times, Max has already publicly stated that he expects a greater contribution in front of goal from the midfielders. Something has been unlocked, but it is still not enough. At the moment no one has gone beyond a single centre: Modric, Rabiot, Loftus-Cheek, Fofana and Ricci are all at one. Considering that Allegri’s game involves a good participation of the midfielders in the attacking phase, the spoils are small. In August the Rossoneri coach said: “Loftus-Cheek and Fofana will have to score at least 15 goals between them, it’s a goal I set and which I care about.” Well, we need to work a lot on it to try to change gear.
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