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As the sample size of games increases, it becomes more and more apparent the work that Massimiliano Allegri is doing with AC Milan.
As MilanNews report, the second international break of the season gives a chance to better analyse the start of the year compared to the September break, which came after just two league games of 2025-26.
Only a month has passed, yet for Milan alone, many things have changed: from a once uncertain team, a more confident one is emerging, one that appears to believe in its abilities. Of course, it’s still too early to make definitive judgments, but three things seem fixed.
1. Spirit and mentality
This September, there have been many matches in which Milan approached the game as if it were a big test and passed it with flying colours.
Perhaps the first was at Udinese, a team coming off a victory at San Siro against Inter and undefeated, especially on a historically difficult ground. The Rossoneri’s perfect approach and a resounding 3-0 victory.
Then came Napoli: an exceptional performance, once again thanks to their reading of the game from the first minute but above all for the sacrifice with which Allegri’s team resisted over half an hour of being down to 10 men against the Italian champion.
Finally, came Juventus. If it were a boxing match Milan deserved to win on points, yet they drew. The ‘beautiful’ part came after the match: seeing disappointed faces from Allegri, Rabiot, Maignan and Pulisic (among others) after a 0-0 draw away against Juventus is a testament to the ambitions.
2. The defence
Tactically, Milan’s biggest change is clear for all to see and it is the big defensive improvement. In recent years, the Diavolo suffered from serious balance issues and goals conceded.
Today, the team appears well-positioned, always aware of what they need to do, and most importantly, they currently have the second-best defence in the league, having conceded only two goals (behind Roma).
The last goal allowed was a penalty, and the last one conceded from open play dates back to the opening round of the season, a Federico Bonazzoli overhead kick that had a very low Expected Goals (xG) number.
3. The dependence on Leao
It should be considered that Milan played this entire month of September without Rafael Leao, and the performances were convincing: four wins, eight goals scored.
In recent seasons, it seemed that without Rafa’s contribution, the Rossoneri would be unable to break a game open. Allegri, however, has shown that Pulisic can be decisive as can Modric or Rabiot, as can Saelemaekers, Fofana and Loftus-Cheek to name a few others.
Even against Juventus, Leao was one of those who squandered chances to win, just as Pulisic and Gimenez missed opportunities before him. Everyone knows that the Portuguese can be a difference-maker too, so that is his next mission.
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