2 days ago
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Antonio Vitiello believes that the win against Cagliari was a perfect example of AC Milan’s philosophy under Massimiliano Allegri.
It certainly wasn’t a vintage performance from Milan in Sardinia on Friday night, but it got the job done to begin 2026 with a victory. It was in many ways similar to the win over Cagliari in the 2010-11 title-winning season, when Rodney Strasser got the only goal amid an injury crisis.
Allegri was in charge then too, and the similarities are beginning to stack up, not only with that season but also with Napoli in 2024-25 as well. While it will still require a monumental effort to go on and win the Scudetto, there are signs of huge growth compared to 12 months ago.
Balance regained
Antonio Vitiello spoke about this new-found mentality and resilience in his latest editorial for MilanNews, praising the impact that the coach has had in implementing higher standards.
“In Cagliari, the Rossoneri held on to their goal once again, and not just thanks to Maignan. The defensive set-up improved, the team regained its balance, and this was crucial in securing the three points,” he said.
“[It was] A victory that highlighted Allegri’s entire playing philosophy: defending well and finishing at the right time. This time, the Rossoneri won thanks to a goal scored with their first shot on target, a situation that has already occurred 11 times in the league.
“Allegri is doing a great job, even if not everyone appreciates his footballing philosophy and his style of play, but the important thing is that Milan is back to being competitive at the top of the table. If some reinforcements arrive from the transfer market, that would be a good thing.”
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