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AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has given an update on the predicted points to win the title, and admitted that the attacking department is a little bruised.
The end of 2025 and the start of 2026 have been positive for Milan, who beat Hellas Verona 3-0 at San Siro to close out last year, and they then welcomed in the new year with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away against Cagliari.
However, there remains no room for slip-ups. Inter and Napoli continue to win, and there is pressure from below too as Juventus and Roma both won on Tuesday night to ensure that no gap is opening up in the Champions League places.
On Thursday night, Genoa arrive at San Siro for the first of two games in around 64 hours. The Rossoblu are just above the relegation zone with Daniele De Rossi in charge, but they have been a tough opponent for Milan in recent years.
Allegri’s pre-Genoa press conference
Allegri spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello on the eve of the game to share his thoughts and answer questions on a number of topics. MilanNews relayed what he had to say.
Tomorrow’s match will be your 200th as Milan coach, but also his first as an Olympic torchbearer…
“The past helps us improve our future, to try to improve on the mistakes we made in the past. As for the Olympic flame, I’m happy; it will be a thrill and a wonderful experience. I thank CONI for giving me this opportunity.
“In tomorrow’s match, we’ll face a Genoa team that has scored consistently in its last 10 games; they’re a team that has improved a lot under De Rossi. They have very good shooters, they have Colombo, who is doing very well, and I’m happy because he’s an extraordinary guy.
“It’s a match that must be approached with great respect: yesterday’s results have raised our Champions League spot to 74 points.”
What can you tell us about Modric’s importance and Maignan’s future?
“As for Mike, the club is working on Milan’s future. There are many excellent players, and the club are working to have a strong future: it’s important that we finish in the top four.
“Modric isn’t a technical surprise, but it’s the passion he has for his work, and above all the humility with which he shows up on the pitch. It makes me laugh that when he misplaces a pass, he gets angry with himself and apologises. He’s a great example for the younger players.
“It’s not so much his technical qualities – mother nature gave him those, good for him – but it’s the passion and love that today’s players must have for the sport they play. That’s what makes the difference.
“It’s difficult at the moment, there are too many distractions, it’s important to have the players focused on their work and the club’s goals.”
Should we consider Juve as a candidate for the Scudetto?
“Juventus have finished their first half of the season… I think the Scudetto quota is 86-88, depending on how the first half of the season ends. To reach 86 or 88, those who are on 36 points must get 50 points in the second half of the season, but Juve is a strong team and can do that.
“Under Spalletti, they’ve had a reversal of results and performances. We have to focus on ourselves and our goal: to reach March in the top four or close to the top. Yesterday’s results show that it’s complicated.
“We have to keep our feet on the ground, be very balanced, and approach the games with great seriousness, like the last two. Then the games start 0-0, it’s not like we have any advantage because we’re Milan.”
Is there a comparison with the Milan you coached before?
“When we talk about old teams, we always tend to say they’re stronger… No! The comparison is with the current players. Milan are a strong team and has very important moral values: everyone has a clear goal, which is to maximise their potential.”
Leao continues to score…
“Leao has to focus on scoring goals, strikers are judged on that. He has to score. He scored in Cagliari and wasn’t feeling great, and he’s carrying this discomfort with him. He can only improve, given that he missed a fair few games in the first half of the season due to a calf and adductor injury.
“The same goes for Nkunku, who won’t be available tomorrow. We hope to have him available for Fiorentina, the knock to his ankle is bothering him.”
What do you expect from the market?
“I don’t expect anything from the transfer market. I have a club that’s taking care of Milan’s future. Tare and Furlani are working hard, and I’m very relaxed.”
Could Füllkrug get another chance?
“He’s improving his condition. He came on in Cagliari and showed that he’s available and has characteristics we don’t have. He presented himself well. Let’s hope he gets a chance to score too – we need goals.”
Tomorrow, Leao and Pulisic will finally be together. What can we expect from them? What can they give you?
“We’ll see. They played 20 minutes together. If everything goes well today and tomorrow morning, they should be in the starting lineup. They’re not at their peak yet.
“Pulisic has this flexor that bothers him from time to time, Leao has an adductor, but everyone has to play well as a team. These months are important to get to March, calmly and patiently, in top condition.”
It seems like it’s a bad thing that Milan score often with their first shot on target, and there are even those who say that Milan won’t last with this style of play…
“We work every day on the quality of our play to improve the quality and speed of our passing. We’re also trying to continue improving our defence. We want to improve in both phases, when you have the ball and when you don’t.
“On first-time goals… now I can only say that I told the lads that, as I’m getting older, I’d like it if they made me suffer a little less (laughs). Jokes aside, it’s an important quality the lads have. They know that every ball, which could be the only one that comes their way, must be exploited.
“When you play to win at Milan, it’s not that one ball decides a match, but a season. The weight of the ball is completely different from that of someone who plays for the average position in the table.
“That’s why the lads need to develop mentally. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing, on the contrary. It’s a quality the lads have.”
How important is Rabiot also in terms of mentality?
“I think it’s a rule of life. It’s not that older players are better technically. It’s not that an older engineer is better prepared than a younger one. In football, it’s a question of games played.
“It’s just a question of experience. Milan have players who have played fewer games but are of excellent quality who can become important for the future of Milan.”
Are there too many prejudices about your style of play?
“I don’t know. One thing I tried to learn when I started out was to copy the best, the ones who had won. I realised that in football there’s no single method for winning, otherwise everyone would use that.
“There are players with different characteristics: you have to put them in a simple way to perform well. Then there are so many components… How do you become a coach? I don’t know, it’s inexplicable. It’s simpler than it seems. Even coaches are different.
“What matters in life is the result, then how you get there. There are many methods, there’s no single one. The same is true in tennis, in all sports. I don’t think there’s a single method.”
There is not much time to recover between Genoa and Fiorentina…
“When there are games in quick succession, you have to make changes, but in the meantime, let’s focus on tomorrow. This year, if we had games in quick succession, like the Champions League, it would have been better.
“An important thing in my opinion is to move the evening schedule from 8:45pm to 8pm. If you play at 8pm, you’re already in bed by 11pm. I think that could be a very smart move.”
You will face Daniele De Rossi…
“I’ve only met Daniele a few times on the pitch; he was one of the elite players. He has all the qualities to be a top-level coach. He needs to develop, as is normal. He’s already well ahead of his coaching experience.
“I’m very close to his dad; we played together at Livorno in 1985. Daniele was born in 1983, just after he was born.”
What can you tell us about Loftus-Cheek?
“I’m very happy with what Ruben is doing. Fingers crossed he’s doing very well. Yesterday he did separate training, but he’ll be available tomorrow. He needs to switch between the two and be more decisive in front of goal.
“He has significant potential, he needs to be more decisive with his headers in the box, too. But I’m very happy.”
What is the real strength of this Milan?
“Criticism is always beneficial; it’s inspiring if done correctly. No one knows the truth, and I certainly don’t. The strength of this group is that they come to the pitch every day with the desire to improve.
“We’ve conceded 10 goals across Pisa, Cremonese, Sassuolo, Torino and Parma. There was a period where we had a dip in concentration, but we hope to be able to maintain that consistency tomorrow.”
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