Allegri: Milan’s season ‘starts today’, ‘too many variables in football’

Massimiliano Allegri feels that Milan’s season ‘starts today’ as they prepare to hose Bologna in Serie A on Sunday evening, and has given his thoughts on the likes of Santiago Gimenez, Dusan Vlahovic, Adrien Rabiot and Rafael Leao. 

The Rossoneri had coach sat down for his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Serie A clash between Milan and Bologna in San Siro. 

The recent international break brought an opportunity for the Rossoneri to regroup after their first two league matches of the season, which brought a surprise 2-1 defeat at home against newly-promoted Cremonese, before an encouraging 2-0 win away against Lecce the following weekend. 

With their first tests of the season behind them, and now going up against an established top-half side in Bologna, Allegri feels that the season ‘starts today’. 

“The season practically starts today. We’re up against Bologna tomorrow, who are no longer a surprise revelation, but are getting used to being high up in the standings. They’ve got great speed, great technique, they have a lot of intensity,” Allegri told the press (via TMW). 

“We lost the first game at home, without even playing a bad game, but conceding two avoidable goals. Tomorrow, we have to do better.”

Are Milan ready to compete in 2025-26?

Asked if he thinks his Milan side are ‘ready’ for the challenge, Allegri replied: “I don’t know, but we’re playing tomorrow and have to win. 

“Three new players have come in and I’m very happy with the squad I have available. The club has done a good job, there’s a good mix of youth and experience. 

“We all know it will be a difficult journey, the goal is to return to the Champions League.” 

Allegri confirmed that Leao will not be available against Bologna and that he is also likely to miss next weekend’s match away against Udinese. 

“Leao has a problem with his soleus, which is a very dangerous muscle. He won’t be with us tomorrow, he won’t even be there in Udine most likely. 

“Estupinan is fine, Pulisic has no problem and is fine.” 

Allegri on Rabiot, Nkunku, Gimenez and Vlahovic

Allegri also spoke about the signings of Adrien Rabiot from Marseille and of Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea. 

“We wrote to each other at the beginning of June, but then I didn’t hear from him again before the transfer,” Allegri said about the talks with his former Juventus colleague, Rabiot. “Physically he’s fine. Nkunku is the one who is the furthest back physically because he didn’t train with the group at Chelsea. I think he has 25-30 minutes in his legs. 

“Rabiot, I have to assess the situation today and tomorrow. We’ve got Nkunku in midfield, (Cheveyo) Balentien, who has a great attitude, and Gimenez has returned from the national team in good form. Let’s not forget that the Mexican arrived during the season this year and needs to adapt. I think he’ll have an excellent season this year.” 

Is this the Milan side that Allegri envisaged when he took the job? 

“The thing I really like, and what I’m happy about, is that we’re all working hard and that there is great dedication from the lads,” he replied. 

“They want to work and improve. Seasons are decided from March to May, and we should have the strength and be in an ideal condition to try our luck in March. With balance, without getting too excited or disappointed.”

Allegri was also asked what he makes of the opinion that Milan would be ‘guaranteed’ a spot in the Serie A top four had they landed a deal for Juventus’s Vlahovic. 

“It makes me smile when people say that you win with one guy and don’t with another. There are too many variables in football, you have to be good at managing the unexpected. You can’t say that you win with one guy and lose with the other. The unexpected is always just around the corner. 

“All we can do is work with a lot of passion to try and create the conditions needed to be able to win games. The rest is all chatter.” 

Allegri also gave his thoughts on the prospect of Milan-Como being played in Australia. 

He said: “There are competent bodies that decide these things. Like it or not, changes happen in all sports, you have to accept and manage the moment, and make sure that things go well regardless. If they tell us to go to Perth, we will go to Perth. If we have to play in Italy, we will play in Italy.” 

Reviewing Milan’s summer business and previewing their prospects for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign, Allegri added: “The club has been very good at seizing the opportunity. Players like Nkunku, Estupinan, like everyone who has arrived, has helped raise the level of the team. We need to work and see where we are in March.

“We have to work with calmness and confidence to reach our goal step by step, which isn’t decided in any one particular game. We have to create the foundations to ensure that we are in the game when we do have decisive matches. We have to have broad shoulders, because there will be tough moments. 

“It’s not that the team will be better if it wins and worse if it loses. We have to find team cohesion with 10 new players. The more they play together, the more they will grow and I’m very confident about this.”