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Allegri is optimistic about Milan’s first competitive clash of the 2025-26 season, but he has also warned that the Rossoneri cannot afford to underestimate Bari.
The season will officially start for Milan tomorrow, taking on Bari in the Coppa Italia preliminaries, and a win is needed to advance to the next round. In fact, anything other than a win would be very troubling ahead of the Serie A opener next weekend.
In addition to Mediaset, an interview we published earlier today, Allegri also spoke to the club’s official channel MilanTV about tomorrow’s game (via MilanNews). While the answers were the same, they were a bit more in-depth on MilanTV and there were a couple of extra questions.
On tomorrow’s match…
“For us, the Coppa Italia is one of our three objectives. Tomorrow is an important match, we have to win on the pitch: we all know that. The season is starting and we have to be ready. We need to have great respect for Bari and a great sense of responsibility.”
On the pre-debut atmosphere…
“There’s great enthusiasm. We thank all the fans who will be at the stadium tomorrow, but we’ll have to be good at playing a responsible, orderly, and technically demanding game. Above all, we’ll have to have great respect for Bari, who are a well-organised team with a good coach.
“They’ve had a good summer pre-season. Tomorrow’s victory is what matters. We must try to advance in the Coppa Italia to reach the finals in May.”
On the importance of the match against Bari…
“I think it’s very important for us mentally. The league will be played over 38 games, and as I’ve always said, leagues aren’t about winning or losing in one game. We need to maintain a great balance: we can’t get too excited when things are going well, and we can’t get depressed when we face tough times.
“We’ll need to have great respect and strength, both in big games and against small and medium-sized teams, which are the games that will make the difference in the league.”
On the importance of the Coppa Italia…
“At first, no one gives the Coppa Italia any weight or value. Like all competitions, when you start reaching the semi-finals, it becomes important, also because it would then allow you to play in the Supercoppa the following year.
“It’s one of our three objectives, given that we won’t be able to play in the Champions League this year.”
On the formation…
“I’m not a big fan of numbers, 4, 3, or 5. The important thing is that the team has a good offensive phase, with the players’ technique, and above all a good defensive phase. I think we’re working on it as a team and it needs to be improved.
“You can’t deviate from the league numbers; if you concede a certain number of goals, you get into a certain position. Our goal is to occupy one of the top four spots at the end of the season.”
On the club…
“I think Milan, the club, has done a great job. Tare has done a great job with both the departures and arrivals. The important thing is that there’s great enthusiasm, a strong desire to succeed, and a belief in the team’s capabilities.
“The new players have integrated very well: there’s a good spirit. It’s normal that the season is starting now and the pressure will increase.”
On the team ahead of the season…
“This team has value. Football isn’t an exact science, and there are years when things don’t go well, but that doesn’t mean the player loses his value.
“Last year, the team reached the Coppa Italia final and won the Supercoppa; they did some good things. This year marks the start of a new season, and we need to be focused on a clear objective for everyone ahead. We need to be aware that the time for joking is over,” he concluded.
Allegri won’t be in the dugout for tomorrow’s clash sadly, as he will be serving the first part of his two-game suspension. He was sent off in the Coppa Italia final with Juventus a year ago (2023-24) and that has come back to haunt him now.
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