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A lot can change in 12 months in football, but for AC Milan it feels like their entire world has turned upside down, in the right way.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, we can highlight how much Massimiliano Allegri’s arrival impacted the Milan world, bringing back enthusiasm across the board, from the pitch to the stands. Getting the fans back on side was not going to be easy, with chants and banners in protest fresh in the memory.
Now all of that seems like a lifetime ago. On Sunday, the Rossoneri beat Verona 3-0 in front of another sold out crowd, to close out 2025 one point off top spot.
Mutual appreciation
In the first half, the stadium sang and cheered the team on. Then, in the 45th minute, after Christian Pulisic’s goal at the end of the first half, the first chant began. “Christian Pulisic la la la!” and so on.
Then, at the start of the second half, it was Nkunku’s turn, a surprise first. The Frenchman had not scored in the league, but more importantly, he had never put in a performance that captivated the hearts of the Rossoneri fans.
After scoring from the penalty spot, the Frenchman inflated his red balloon under the south stand and gave it to the fans, who five minutes later dedicated their first chant of the season to him.
🥰 That feeling after a home win ❤️🖤
— SempreMilanTV (@SempreMilanTV) December 28, 2025
From there, Luka Modric took centre stage. First on the pitch, then in the stands. The Croatian lit up San Siro throughout the match with refined plays, two bursts of speed and his usual class. In the 70th minute, Allegri replaced him, bringing on Jashari. The fans thanked him with a standing ovation.
Such open applause hadn’t been seen at San Siro in a while. Not only that: a minute passed, and the fans began chanting: “Mamma mamma mamma, sai perché mi batte il corazòn, ho visto Luka Modric. O mammà, innamorato son.” It is the famous chant dedicated to Maradona by Napoli fans.
Finally, the stadium also sang for Alexis Saelemakers, before returning to applaud Pulisic as he came off. The same chant followed after the goal. Then, at the final whistle, all the players were under the Curva Sud with lots of smiles, a mutual show of appreciation.
Times changed
If you think back just ten months, the scenario is completely reversed. At the end of February in Bologna, the fans displayed a banner that left no room for interpretation. “We’re not here for the team, for this team,” it read. Another said: “Show us your balls.” In short, a hostile atmosphere against the players and the club.
Seven days later, the situation was confirmed once again. Lazio arrived at San Siro, and the fans deserted the stands for the first 15 minutes of the match. Then, they booed. Every mistake, every inaccuracy, everything, and it would be the same in the weeks to come.
Last year was a complex one on all fronts. The club were also the target, with more banners stating: “Incompetent, unambitious management, you’re not worthy of our history,” and “We are not Americans.”
Even the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations were not without chants, banners and protests, so much so that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Giorgio Furlani entered from the back to avoid the fans. Today, however, everything has changed.
English (US) ·