Least changes, most impact: The substitution paradox for Milan under Allegri

Among the various strange statistics connected to AC Milan this season concerns Massimiliano Allegri’s use of substitutions, and their impact.

Going into the 2025-26 season, Milan’s management opted to go for a streamlined squad with just 19 senior outfield players. Due to injuries – some long-term – and suspensions, the depth has been stretched very thing at times, leading to multiple games with a bench not even filled.

Low volume, big impact

Looking at the ranking of Serie A coaches on Transfermarkt, what stands out is that Allegri has made only 78 changes during games so far in the league this season, among coaches that have managed all 21 games (not sacked or taking over midway through).

To put things into perspective, the team with the second-least substitutions used is Parma under Carlos Cuesta, and they have 13 more with 91 alterations in total. The rest of the pack are quite clustered, up to Bologna in first with 105 out of 105 available subs used in 21 games.

What is interesting though is how big an impact these subs have had. In fact, Milan are the team that have had the most goals from players introduced during games, with six racked up already.

Christian Pulisic carries a lot of the weight in this sense with three goals, including his brace in the 3-2 comeback win over Torino. Niclas Füllkrug (winner vs. Lecce), Christopher Nkunku (equaliser vs. Fiorentina) and Zachary Athekame (equaliser vs. Pisa) make up the others.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Speaking of Athekame – who is a candidate to get his first league start on Sunday against Roma – he is the most-used substitute having come on 11 times. The Swiss full-back is actually joint with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, also summoned 11 times.

Samuele Ricci has been called upon 10 times, Nkunku eight, Pulisic five, Koni De Winter five and Füllkrug already four times. What is interesting is Athekame’s 11 sub appearances combine for 95 minutes, while Loftus-Cheek is on 239 and Ricci on 212.

The depth is giving Allegri a few more answers as the season goes on, but with one game a week to contend with virtually from now until the end of May, might we continue to see subs used sparingly by the coach?