Milan kick off their 2025-26 Serie A marketing campaign tomorrow after they host newly promoted Cremonese at San Siro.
Talking forward of the sport at his first correct league press convention since his return to the Rossoneri, head coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed his fundamental goal for the season, praised the membership’s switch window and dropped a touch in regards to the rumoured arrival of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.
Commercial
Chatting with the press, , Allegri opened the convention by saying “Tomorrow we begin the season with an vital match. I’m very curious, additionally as a result of I’m returning to the touchline after a yr away. It was great to see so many individuals within the Coppa Italia and tomorrow there can be 75,000 followers as effectively. We’ll have to work effectively and attempt to get to no less than March in the very best situation. I’m very proud of the gamers – this can be a group that’s turning into an actual crew.”
DUBLIN, IRELAND – AUGUST 09: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, reacts throughout the pre-season pleasant match between Leeds United and AC Milan at Aviva Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Dublin, Eire. (Photograph by Charles McQuillan/Getty Photographs)
Allegri: ‘Milan should return to Champions League’
Milan completed eighth in Serie A final season which means they’re notably absent from European competitions this yr. Allegri has already set targets for the Rossoneri to return to continental soccer, “I at all times say that within the league you must transfer ahead such as you’re on a cruise. You’ll be able to’t go too quick however you need to keep regular. Subsequent yr, everyone knows Milan should return to the Champions League with out setting limits for ourselves and we will solely obtain that by specializing in need, laborious work and a focus to element in coaching.”
Commercial
Allegri additionally spoke on the significance of respecting each opponent, as Milan put together to host Davide Nicola’s newly promoted Cremonese, “We’ve got to be a crew that reveals nice respect for everybody as a result of matches are received on the pitch. Simply because we’re Milan, it doesn’t imply we begin 2-0 up. To get outcomes, you must be humble and clever. Each recreation can be tough, and we should have nice respect for each opponent.”
Cremonese return to Serie A after spending two seasons again down within the second division.
HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 26: AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri gestures throughout the Liverpool FC v AC Milan Pre-Season Pleasant match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photograph by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Photographs/Getty Photographs)
Commercial
Allegri: ‘No remark’ on Boniface; ‘eight groups within the combine for Scudetto’
When requested in regards to the favourites for the Scudetto, Allegri responded “As I’ve stated, there are no less than eight groups within the combine however often the favorite is the one who received the title the earlier season. We’ll have to do superb work whereas sustaining stability.”
Allegri then expanded upon his idea of stability, “It isn’t a query of enjoying model however of the traits of the gamers we’ve on the pitch. The bottom line is to maintain stability and order after which I’ll make selections based mostly on the qualities and attributes of my gamers. In case you have Tomori enjoying as a full-back on the proper, it’s not the identical as having somebody who pushes ahead. The identical applies to midfield and assault.”
The Italian coach additionally took time to reward the work his membership has executed off-the-pitch this summer time, with new sporting director Igli Tare serving to to underline a recent recruitment technique, centered largely on signing gamers who can play a giant half within the membership’s future. “The membership has executed an excellent job available on the market,” Allegri stated, “each with departures and arrivals. Younger gamers have are available, with potential and high quality. Day by day I share aims with the membership, which is attentive and alert. For now, the vital factor is tomorrow’s match and I’m proud of all of the gamers I’ve obtainable.”
Commercial
Milan are being within the closing levels of the switch window and Allegri was requested to touch upon the Bayer Leverkusen striker, to which he replied “In the meanwhile he’s not a Milan participant, so out of respect for the opposite membership I received’t remark. As for the followers, we’ve to be good at drawing them in not solely by way of technical performances but additionally by being a crew. And I’m satisfied that once we do this, they are going to be proper there to assist us.”
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – JULY 07: Victor Boniface attends a coaching session of Bayer 04 Leverkusen after resume of summer time break at Coaching Floor on July 07, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photograph by Christof Koepsel/Getty Photographs)
Allegri talks crew decisions for Milan forward of Cremonese conflict
When requested about his squad, Allegri stated “I’m proud of the gamers I’ve obtainable. We’ve bought Tomori and De Winter who can play centrally and likewise as full-backs however then there are others like Gimenez and Athekame who convey totally different qualities. Leagues, 9 instances out of ten, are determined by those that come off the bench. Within the final half-hour, video games change fully and so many outcomes are decided.”
Commercial
Allegri has been attempting totally different mixtures in assault over pre-season, with the coach opting to utilise Rafael Leao centrally in the intervening time – while the membership proceed to seek for a brand new attacker and coped with the prolonged vacation for Gimenez. On his entrance three, the Italian stated “We’ve already used it! Rafa has performed up entrance and you could possibly see it additionally with Saelemaekers and Pulisic – so we’ve already tried that. Then it relies upon: some begin increased, some a bit deeper, relying on the participant’s qualities on the pitch. We’ve additionally had Santi Gimenez play, and we’ve bought Chukwueze too.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Luka Modric of AC Milan is put beneath stress by Cole Palmer of Chelsea throughout the pre-season pleasant match between Chelsea and AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on August 10, 2025 in London, England. (Photograph by Richard Pelham/Getty Photographs)
“As we speak I’ll determine whether or not begins or comes off the bench. Loftus-Cheek and Fofana are gamers who mix each physicality and method – they might want to rating no less than 15 targets between them. That may be a goal I’ve set and one I care about.”
Commercial
Allegri concluded the convention with this, “We have to show ourselves on the pitch, with details. The crew has nice values. I at all times say: an excellent participant can turn into even higher, however a nasty one stays unhealthy – possibly he can enhance a bit, turn into much less unhealthy, however that’s it. Right here we’ve robust gamers however we might want to present it on the pitch for everybody to see. Constructing crew chemistry can be elementary. As for final season’s dynamics, I don’t wish to choose – solely these inside knew the fact. However a Coppa Italia last was reached and a Supercoppa was received. That reveals there are values in place.”