GdS: ‘Reminiscent of 1980s football’ – Milan’s small squad begins to generate issues

AC Milan made the choice to go into the 2025-26 season with just 19 outfield players, and it is a decision that could hurt them.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Allegri hinted for the first time after the draw against Pisa that the squad is not enough. He stated: “The absence of Rabiot and Pulisic isn’t the problem tonight, it’s a question of the number of players you have available for substitutions.”

The words were surprising, so much for the comments on Rabiot and Pulisic – it’s obvious that their absence is a huge problem – but for the statement on the player count. Having five absentees didn’t help, but the squad was kept deliberately small.

The guideline was obviously generated by the lack of European commitments, but it was evident from September 1st – the day the market closed – that any injury problems could put the team in crisis.

Lack of options

Allegri’s complaint is therefore surprising, both because the club’s plans for a (large) reduction in squad size were clear since the summer, and because the coach agreed to the squad slimming down. At least, in front of the cameras.

What the coach can complain about is that the quality of the reserve players isn’t up to par with the starters for a team aiming for the Scudetto. The absence of Rabiot and Pulisic is incontrovertible proof of this.

In the last two league matches, following the Rossoneri’s international disaster, Milan showed up with glaringly inadequate benches. Against Fiorentina, they had only five outfield players, two of whom were brought in from Milan Futuro.

Photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Against Pisa on Friday night, they also had five outfield players (one from the second team). The midfield was particularly depleted, with Jashari, Rabiot and Loftus-Cheek all missing.

All this essentially translates into two problems. The first, as mentioned, is the lack of quality alternatives in some areas of the pitch (not all). The second, closely linked to the latter and the limited squad, is the coach’s sparing use of substitutions.

Against Pisa, he made only two changes (Athekame and Nkunku came on), and three against Fiorentina (Gimenez, De Winter and Balentien). Milan, reduced by injuries to a management style ‘reminiscent of 1980s football’, raises another significant issue.

Fewer available substitutions equals more playing time for key players. The Rossoneri, in this way, risk squandering the advantage of not having European competitions.