GdS: Two days off, but apart – why Allegri has changed Milan’s usual training habits

Massimiliano Allegri is ever the strategist, and he has been carefully planning the training schedule for his AC Milan team.

La Gazzetta dello Sport write that Allegri’s planning may not be as unusual as Chivu’s decision to not have Inter train on the eve of their game against Lecce (an unprecedented decision in Italy), but there’s no shortage of unusual work arrangements at Milan.

Allegri has scheduled two days off this week, not surprising considering Milan’s next match isn’t until Tuesday February 3 in Bologna. Except that, unlike usual, these are not consecutive days, but separate ones. The first was the Monday after the away match in Rome, the second will be on Friday.

The motivations

Given the schedule, with a full nine days between matches, everyone was expecting the usual 48 hours of freedom. Indeed, some even went as far as predicting 72, especially since in January Milan played several midweek matches.

Allegri decided differently. Why? The vast distance between the games in Rome and Bologna is precisely one of the reasons: one of the goals is to ‘break up’ the long build-up to the Dall’Ara. The other objective is to avoid a prolonged lay-off that would allow a break the rhythm the team have.

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

To further summarise: with two or three days away from Milanello, you can organise your free time in a certain way. If you only have one day off, you need to plan it in a strictly limited way, especially in terms of distances to reach distant locations.

These aren’t punitive measures: there’s no need for them. The team certainly has limitations in terms of overall stamina over the course of 90 minutes (not from an athletic standpoint, anyway), but the dressing room is under control and well managed by the coach and senior players.

Compared to last season, we’re at a complete opposite end. Now, however, with Inter trying to break away and the battle for the top four positions set to become increasingly fierce, it’s essential to avoid any distractions.

This will allow us to arrive in March – as Allegri always insists – in the best possible condition for the final sprint. In short, Max plays tactically and defensively even when planning his weekly training program.

Furthermore, the Rossoneri coach has made a strong impact at Milanello since his arrival. For example, by reinstating the pre-game retreat at the training complex before home games, and by modifying the dining area to a single table. In Allegri’s eyes, the team feeling is everything.