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AC Milan’s defensive record has greatly improved this season, as Massimiliano Allegri got to work fixing the team’s biggest flaw.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall this morning, Allegri said it on the day of his presentation and has reiterated it several times: “We must concede fewer goals than last year to qualify for the Champions League.”
His team are listening so far: the players have assimilated the new tactical instructions and are applying them on the pitch to avoid repeating the mistakes that resulted in them finishing in eighth place in 2024-25.
Twelve months ago, after 10 games, the Rossoneri had conceded 13 goals and only kept a clean sheet twice. Now they’ve conceded seven, four of which came at San Siro against newly promoted Cremonese and Pisa.
The Rossoneri have kept five clean sheets, including in the big matches against Juventus and Roma. They haven’t conceded so few goals at this point in the season since 2008-09. Credit goes to Allegri’s instructions, plus the attackers’ pressing, and the midfielders’ sacrifice when not in possession.
However, it’s undeniable that defenders’ lapses in concentration have almost disappeared. It’s curious that those who made decisive stops and put in outstanding performances today were often on the bench or the perpetrators of glaring blunders last year.
Gabbia: The leader
Matteo Gabbia came through the youth academy and made 35 appearances out of 55 official games last season, starting 32 of them. Looking at Serie A, he started 22 of 38 games, and made 26 appearances.
Now, Gabbia has become untouchable: he was included in the starting XI 10 times out of 10 in the league and so far is the only player not to miss a single minute. In the Coppa Italia, he was rested in the round of 32 match against Lecce.
He has become the leader of the three-man defence, is listened to in the dressing room when he speaks, and – thanks to his performance – has earned him a call-up to the national team again. Right now, he is the undisputed symbol of both Milan and the team’s resurgence.
Pavlovic: The reborn
Strahinja Pavlovic, who was acquired from Salzburg for €18m plus bonuses in the summer of 2024, has also made an impressive transformation. He made 35 appearances out of 55 games in 2024-25, starting 31 of them. In Serie A, he started 21 times, with 24 appearances.
The Serbian started well, but then made several positioning and concentration errors, sliding to the bench. Allegri and his staff have worked hard on these shortcomings, and Pavlovic is now a completely different player.
He seems more attentive in marking and working with his team-mates down the line, and being on the left side of the three he is able to use his aggression and anticipation more. His goal against Roma was beautiful and decisive, but he has also created danger by pushing forward in others games.
Tomori: The rejuvenated
And then there’s Fikayo Tomori, who gritted his teeth to sit on the bench on Sunday despite a thigh hematoma preventing him from playing. He came on as an injury-time substitute and was nonetheless instrumental in the cause.
The Englishman had been a key player in the Scudetto-winning season of 2021-22, but last season – under both Fonseca and Conceiçao – he missed several matches. To be precise, he made 35 appearances overall out of 55 games (see the theme here?) and 31 were starts.
So far, however, he has missed only one Serie A match (against Pisa) and has started eight of 10. He also started both Coppa Italia matches. He’s adapted perfectly to his role on the right side of a three-man defence marker and now, like Ruben Loftus-Cheek, hopes to regain an England call-up.
After returning to the level he enjoyed at Chelsea and the first part of his time at Milan, Tomori can do just that. Fikayo, Matteo and Strahinja have certainly found a remarkable understanding that has left Koni De Winter with only crumbs (in terms of minutes).
With the help of Maignan, who is focused on Milan despite his contract expiring in June, they want to push the Rossoneri higher and higher with clean sheets. This is the path indicated by Allegri, and the defenders are following him.
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