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On the eve of AC Milan’s first game of 2026, taking on Cagliari away from home, Massimiliano Allegri spoke to the media at the usual press conference.
Milan ended 2025 on a strong note with their 3-0 win against Hellas Verona, bouncing back from the Supercoppa Italiana disappointment. However, it won’t mean much unless they start 2026 just as well, with Cagliari hosting them at Unipol Domus tomorrow.
Speaking to the media at his usual pre-match press conference (via MilanPress), Allegri shared his thoughts on why tomorrow’s game is so important for Milan. He also provided an update on the injuries, since there have been a lot of question marks in recent days.
How important is it to start the year well?
“Happy new year to everyone! Tomorrow is a tough match like all the others. I said in Udine that it was a very important match, and tomorrow is just as important. The standings are taking shape, and tomorrow we need to take another small step forward to remain in the top four.
“Between now and February 15th, we have eight games, six away and only two at home. We need everyone. We need to make small steps to get to the post-Pisa match in the best possible shape.”
What is the latest on the injuries? January will be a lively month with the mercato…
“It won’t be lively due to the mercato, but because we have Cagliari, Genoa, then Fiorentina, then Como, and then on Sunday we play at home against Lecce. The important thing is to have everyone available.
“Tomorrow, we can call Gabbia recovered, as he will be on the bench with the team. Nkunku won’t be available, as his ankle problem persists. Leao is fully recovered but he hasn’t played in a month, and we’ll see how long he can be on the pitch.
“Pulisic trained separately until yesterday. We will see how he is tomorrow. Pavlovic is coming with us to Sardinia, but he had a fever. We will see how he is tomorrow.”
The mercato again…
“There’s no point in talking about it… Things are done, not talked about. Füllkrug arrived immediately and will be available tomorrow. I’m very happy with his arrival. We need to know that we need to raise the bar now; the further you go, the less time you have to recover.”
On Füllkrug…
“He’ll be on the bench. Maybe I will break up the game a bit, because you think one thing and another happens. The important thing is to get everyone back.”
What wish did you make for the new year?
“Honestly, I struggled to even get to midnight. I fell asleep at 10 PM and woke up at 11:30 PM. We had to prepare for this morning’s match. There are no dreams; we need to focus on our goals. Keep our feet on the ground and keep our balance.
“Right now, there are five teams competing for four spots, but Como and Bologna are doing well behind them, as are Lazio and Atalanta. And winning games is always difficult, and tomorrow will be no different. It will be a tough match. We need to stay in the game mentally.”
Would you be truly happy in June with a fourth-place finish?
“The important thing is to get to June and do our best. I always say that Milan should play in the Champions League every year. We must have the conviction to aim for the highest possible result. Only then can you achieve the best.
“The league is simple: ultimately, the best team wins. I’m not saying I’ll be happy, but we would have achieved a significant result. That doesn’t mean we don’t have the ambition to reach the highest possible result.”
What if Pavlovic can’t make it tomorrow?
“Today we tested both Odogu and Bartesaghi. If he’s there, he will play. Otherwise, someone else will.”
Can having the games so close to each other help you prepare?
“I think the team played a very good and organised game last Sunday. The first half was definitely not a great one to watch, but we didn’t take any risks. Tomorrow we need another organised game. Cagliari have pace, technique, and are good in the penalty area. We need a better performance.”
On the mercato again…
“Gimenez is out for 3-4 months, Füllkrug has arrived and will help us out. Right now, I’m happy with the squad I have available, but we need to recover everyone. We are doing reasonably well, but the points we have now aren’t enough to achieve any goals.”
Is it an advantage or a disadvantage to play on Friday?
“Football is wonderful for one simple reason: if you win, it’s nice to play on Friday, but if you don’t, the opposite is true. The important thing is not to waste energy looking at the schedule. You have to get as many points as possible.”
Do you remember Cagliari?
“Even though years have passed, I spent five years there, both as a player and as a coach. I’m very close to Cellino. It was my first experience in Serie A.”
Leao from the start?
“He can start, then I’ll have to see with Pulisic. Füllkrug will definitely be on the bench. Then I’ll decide whether to start with one or two.”
On the schedule…
“Today it’s an advantage that we play on the 2nd: if we had played on the 3rd, some of the guys could have had a good night and they didn’t (smiles).”
The game is scheduled for 20:45 CET on Friday evening, which means Milan and Cagliari are the first teams to play on matchday 18 of Serie A. In addition to putting pressure on their rivals, a win would also move the Rossoneri to the top of the standings, at least temporarily.
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