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Massimiliano Allegri has so far persisted with a three-man defence, but the construction of the squad allowed for tactical flexibility.
As Tuttosport (via AllMilan) write this morning, Allegri opened the season playing a 3-5-2 for the most part. After a summer tour of Asia and the Pacific that saw the Rossoneri consistently deploy that formation, he liked what he saw and decided to keep it.
However, whenever questioned about the system that he has been using, Allegri’s concept has always been clear that the numbers don’t matter. Recently, he stated: “It’s where the players move that counts, not the numbers on the board.”
Chameleonic capabilities
The initial 3-5-2 enhances a squad blessed with plenty of midfielders and few full-backs, but there’s no shortage of alternatives. As Tuttosport’s headline reads: ‘Allegri, the quick-change artist of a multi-faceted Milan’.
The coach has already demonstrated the willingness and ability to switch to a 3-4-2-1 or the more attacking 4-3-3. The goal is clear: adapt the formation to the moments of the match, the opponents and above all the characteristics of his best players.
Allegri il trasformista di un Milan a più facce pic.twitter.com/yI8oLGNyYw
— #𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 (@MilanSpace_03) September 17, 2025
In a fluid situation, Allegri can still count on some key players. In attack, Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are untouchable. In midfield, the so-called ‘Franco-Croatian line’ of Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric gives quality and solidity.
The real deciding factor, according to the paper, is Alexis Saelemaekers. The Belgian was highly regarded by Stefano Pioli in recent seasons, but is carving out an increasingly decisive role for himself thanks to his ability to play multiple roles from full-back to winger.
What emerges from the first few games of the season is a Milan capable of transforming without losing its identity. A team that, under Allegri’s guidance, seems eager to return to competing with pragmatism and vision.
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