CorSport: Allegri lacking options with help expected in January – the strategy

Massimiliano Allegri constantly repeats it: AC Milan’s goal is to finish the season in the top four. However, there are reasons to dream bigger.

The table shows Milan two points behind league leaders Roma, thus ahead of those who began the season as the two favourites to contend for the Scudetto, namely Inter and Napoli. The fact that the Rossoneri have beat all the other teams in the top five is another strong positive signal.

The license to dream big is there, and it must pass from the pitch to the offices of Casa Milan. With only 19 outfield players, can Milan maintain this pace for the entire season? Help could – and, according to Allegri, should – come in the January transfer window.

Avoiding emergencies

As Corriere dello Sport (via PressReader) report this morning, having only one competition – in addition to the few Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana games – may help Milan, but the Livorno-born coach would prefer not to have to deal with any emergencies.

A current example: Alexis Saelemaekers and Christian Pulisic didn’t complete Wednesday’s training session due to back pain and muscle fatigue, respectively. Their conditions aren’t a major concern for Lazio, but they will still need to be monitored closely between today and tomorrow.

A coach, however, must be prepared for all eventualities: if the Belgian were to miss the game, considering Zachary Athekame’s injury (out for about a month) there is not a natural right-back in the ranks.

Christopher Nkunku, on the other hand, would provide an alternative to the American up front. If he were to start though – with Santiago Gimenez’s ankle still sore – there would not be an attacking option on the bench.

Signings a necessity

It is not news that Milan’s squad is rather thin. Indeed, Allegri has been made aware of the fact several times in these first months of the season with a wave of injuries coming in October.

The Rossoneri are last in Serie A in terms of substitutions, with 42 changes made in 12 games, or 3.5 per game. This is 10 behind second-to-last Parma, 16 behind rivals Inter and Napoli, and 17 behind league leaders Roma.

Max is the only one in the league to have had a match where he used only two substitutions, and seven times he has made only three. Only five teams have matched that, but only in one isolated case, i.e. one matchday out of 12. Allegri has made five substitutions in just three matches.

Only playing one game (usually) is an advantage, certainly, but rotation is still needed. Therefore, some assistance for the coach would be advisable in January. Specifically in three roles: centre-back (with David Odogu a loan candidate), a right wing-back and a striker.