The AC Milan head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of the match against Como which is scheduled for tomorrow, January 15, 2026.
People talk a lot about the points lost against teams in the lower half of the table, but AC Milan still has 40 points. Have they earned them?
“We have 40 points, and those are the ones we earned on the pitch. It’s a good foundation, no one can take them away from us. Now we have to focus on the next 19 matches, the second half of the season, to collect points and stay in the top 4.”
Allegri, torchbearer for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics:
“Beautiful experience, there were so many people. Sport is a wonderful thing: there are rules, discipline. It’s very important for the growth of children and young people, who are educated through it. Sport educates, that’s why kids should do a lot of sports. I really enjoy skiing, and now, whenever I can, I go and have a lot of fun.”
Medical update:
"Fullkrug is out along with Pavlovic. Pavlovic has nine stitches in his head, Fullkrug has this big bruise on his toe that will keep him out today. Hopefully he’ll be ready by Sunday, otherwise for the Roma game."
What does Milan need?
"We need to start being a little tougher during the game. There are moments when we’re a bit fragile in both phases. Then we need to improve game situations, especially to be more technically precise. The players have great qualities, they just need to believe they are a strong team."
On the challenge with Fabregas:
"It’s not Fabregas against Allegri, it’s Como against Milan. Fabregas is doing an excellent job, he has a lively Como that presses well and is technically strong. He’s doing a fantastic job despite only coaching for 2–3 years."
What rating would you give Milan?
"Giving ratings is difficult for me. I can only say that if you ask the coaches, all teams in the league have their 'ifs and buts.' But with 'ifs and buts,' you get nowhere. Everyone has the points they deserve. Everyone has something to complain about… 'If Pulisic had scored three goals in Florence…' But he didn’t. He scored them before, and maybe he’ll do it again tomorrow. We need to focus on our performances and improve our mental focus: we’re in the second half of the season, and there’s no more time to make up for mistakes."
Milan now conceding a few more goals:
"On Sunday in Florence, after the first fifteen minutes, we had already been in front of goal three times with Pulisic. If you score, the approach is correct; if not… everything depends on the result. Against Roma at home, we had the half-hour of terror, then we went ahead, and in the second half, we had 4–5 scoring chances… That’s football… Then there are unexpected events, and you have to manage them. But every match is different from the other. I agree that we fell behind eight times, but we also came back eight times: it depends if you see the glass half full or half empty. If everything were perfect, which in football is impossible, all matches would end 0–0 or the same team would always win."
Have any skiing champions inspired your passion? Allegri replied:
"First of all, good luck to Federica Brignone, and to all the Italians participating in the Olympics. I was inspired by Tomba; when he raced, schools would stop. In Italy, we live off excellence, and that’s something we need to work on. It’s a global sporting event that will bring many people from different countries to Italy, and that’s a wonderful thing."
How is Leao? Is the team going through a dip?
"During the season, there comes a moment you could call a dip, but it’s not really a dip. Even if it were, it must be handled with balance. It’s not like the season ends tomorrow in Como: you need to stay balanced, keep nerves steady, and shoulders broad. It was impossible for Juventus to stay out of the top four. It’s normal for the league to be like this. At the end of the season, it’s normal that someone will miss out. I hope it’s the others, not us (laughs). Rafa is doing well."
On Como’s field width:
"It doesn’t change anything at all. Regardless of the field’s width, the more space there is, the easier it is to play. We’ll face a team that is difficult to play against: they lead the league in possession and have the best defense. We’re facing a team that doesn’t carry the responsibility to win, which gives them advantages: they can play every game with the mentality Fabregas has instilled in them."
They defend high and attack. Is that the key?
"That could be it, but it could also be that they concede action at times without conceding goals. The current theory says they defend better because they defend high, and so far it’s proving true, but maybe in two months you’ll say the opposite. What’s certain is they’re having a great season."
Allegri, is Milan on the same level as Napoli and Inter?
"It was really a beautiful match, they played very well technically. Intensity doesn’t come from running; running is just one component if the ball moves fast. Intensity comes from the ball, not running. You run chasing the ball, you can’t just run fast. They played a technically excellent game. Inter has been consistent for six years, except for 22/23, always in the top two. Napoli in the last 12 years has only missed the Champions twice: they’ve done important work. Our goal, all of ours, is to work so Milan can participate in the Champions League next year. To do this, you have to work, go through good and bad moments. If there’s a bad moment, the team doesn’t lose value; the season has ups and downs. That’s why I say you need to travel at cruising speed, which is what takes you to the end."
Tactical news? Four-man defense?
"This could be a solution, it’s something I’m thinking about, we’re working on it, it depends on the moments and the players I have. Now I have Fullkrug out; if I played three forwards, I’d have no one on the bench. In Florence, I was able to make important substitutions. I have to set a formation, regardless of the system, to also have bench options."
How is Santiago Gimenez progressing?
"Gimenez is progressing well, but he’s still far from returning. We’ll talk about it again in March, end of March."
Milan underestimated, does it touch their pride?
"We have to prove to ourselves and aim for the highest result to show we are better. If someone is ahead of us, they were better, the best. Nothing is impossible; if you start from that premise, then you might reach what’s possible."
Are the midfielders’ goals missing? Allegri answered:
"They will come. In the league, in the end, all the numbers even out. Defenders will score again from set pieces. You have to have a lot of confidence because Milan is a strong team. You have to be strong, especially in moments like these."
How important were the January signings in 2011?
"Two extraordinary players arrived. Van Bommel was marvelous, Antonio had exceptional qualities. They were important. That doesn’t mean this year we need two players; the squad is fine as it is. The important thing is that we are satisfied, and above all that I am satisfied."
So the defense is fine as it is? Can De Winter play in Pavlovic’s position?
"Tomorrow he absolutely will, Pavlovic isn’t available. He’s played there before and has grown a lot. It requires a lot of balance. Some players are in their first year at Milan and have adapted very quickly. To get used to the pressures of Milan, you also go through mistakes. I’m happy with the players at my disposal: it’s a good group, and with them, we’ll go all the way to the end."
If Milan returns to the Champions League, will it be as a protagonist or a minor player, also considering possible outgoing transfers and past high-profile sales like Sandro Tonali and Tijjani Reijnders?
"Let’s take it one step at a time. We aim to finish in the top four. In the Champions League, there are teams of world-class value in terms of revenue. Real Madrid earns over a billion, Bayern 975 million. That gap is tough. For now, we hope all Italian teams progress in Europe so that five teams can qualify for the Champions League. Qualifying would be important both technically and financially. Let’s focus on what we can do this year; what happens next year we’ll see."
