Tuttosport: Longer break but extra rest – Allegri’s strategy to manage Milan’s workload

AC Milan now have another extended period between games after the win over Bologna, but Massimiliano Allegri is managing workloads.

As Tuttosport (via MN24) report this morning, following the win against Bologna on Tuesday night, Allegri has decided to grant his team a break. As a result, after doing some light work on Wednesday, they will not be back in until Sunday.

The reasoning

The decision comes at a critical point in the season, and reflects the coach’s focus on managing his players’ energy levels. Allegri felt it was essential to offer his players a chance to recover physically and mentally, so they could face the upcoming trip to Pisa with confidence and strength.

His decision to extend the rest period granted to the team is no coincidence. The trip to Pisa, scheduled for February 13th, is the third consecutive away match and comes amid a particularly intense schedule.

With this in mind, the coach preferred to give his players the time they need to fully recover. After the usual post-match recovery session, Allegri decided to grant the group extra time to recharge their batteries.

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

After the Pisa game, Milan have the rescheduled match against Como on February 18. Parma (home) is on February 22nd, Cremonese (away) is on March 1 and then the derby on March 8. So, being at 100% for that pre-derby run is crucial, because points cannot be dropped.

It will be particularly useful also for players like Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, Alexis Saelemaekers and Niclas Füllkrug who are all battling minor ailments, as well as the 40-year-old Luka Modric who had appeared a bit fatigued when the schedule was packed.