It is the day before the eve of the match at Milanello, with Milan preparing for the big clash scheduled for Sunday evening at 20:45 (CET) at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma. Beyond the good news regarding Saelemaekers, with the Belgian back training fully with the group and heading toward a call-up, Allegri currently has two selection doubts ahead of the game against Gasperini’s side.
The first concerns the defence. After a poor showing in the Supercoppa, De Winter has been playing with composure and is steadily improving. The coach from Livorno, who had already worked with him at Juventus, has always stressed the importance of patience and trust with players who lack experience at this level. The former Genoa defender did well to stay focused after the wave of criticism he received at the end of 2025, some of it unfair, and he has started 2026 on a positive note. In recent outings he has filled in for Pavlovic on the left side of the back line, showing his versatility and complete availability to the coach.
Here lies the first dilemma. Pavlovic, who recently received nine stitches above the eyebrow, should now be fully recovered. However, the treated area is delicate and heavily stressed for a central defender. Allegri will need to be smart, and perhaps also a bit fortunate, as he likes to say, in choosing between the two. De Winter is confident and improving, while Pavlovic has been one of the most unexpected strengths of the team this season. One of his trademark, all-action forward runs even decided the first meeting, played at San Siro.
Another player who has impressed the coach in recent matches, and who has already logged solid minutes this season despite not being a regular starter, is Samuele Ricci. Allegri always speaks highly of him, describing him as an intelligent and, above all, reliable player. At this stage of his career, the Livorno-born coach sees him as a mezzala. Physically, the former Torino midfielder is in excellent shape and suits the demands Allegri places on his midfielders, both defensively and offensively. Shirt number four is currently competing for a place with Fofana, usually the designated starter, and Loftus-Cheek, whom Allegri generally prefers to introduce during matches to make the most of his physical power and ability to drive forward with the ball. The final training session will clear up the coach’s doubts, but as things stand Ricci is a serious option to complete the trio alongside Modrić and Rabiot.
Selection battles like these are undoubtedly a positive sign. They show there is competition within the squad, the gap between some starters and backups in certain areas is not significant, and, above all, the coach has players who are sharp and ready. Nkunku found his scoring touch at the end of December and has kept delivering, Fullkrug arrived bursting with enthusiasm, Ricci has done his job in several roles, and Jashari is regaining strong physical condition after the enforced early-season layoff. Overall, the smaller group agreed upon at the start of the year by the coach and management has blended well, and the various players, with different levels of experience and quality, have all adapted smoothly to life at Milan. Allegri often says that the key is having everyone available, then deciding who plays, a clear sign that the coach has complete trust in his squad, writes Milan News.
