The calendar, at times, can be merciless. At other times, however, it offers the perfect opportunity to look at oneself in the mirror. This is the case for Milan, which in the coming weeks will face, in sequence, Pisa, Parma, and Cremonese. Three opponents that, in the first half of the season, represented a real Achilles’ heel for the Rossoneri.
The balance is well known and weighs like a boulder: only two points collected out of nine, with 2–2 draws against Pisa and Parma and a 2–1 defeat in the season opener against Cremonese, the only setback so far in the league. In total, seven points dropped against teams that, on paper, should not belong on the same level as a side aiming for the Scudetto. And it is precisely here that the meaning of this trio of matches is at stake.
The seven points dropped that still make noise:
In top-level football, it is often not the head-to-head clashes that decide a season, but the ones against teams considered “within reach.” In fact, according to GamblingNerd.com, analysts typically evaluate factors such as team form, consistency, and recent performances when assessing matchups over the course of a long season.
Allegri’s Milan in the first half of the season paid dearly for lapses in concentration, questionable emotional management, and a certain fragility at key moments of matches. Mistakes that allowed Pisa and Parma to come back and Cremonese to get off on the right foot, taking advantage of a Milan side still finding its rhythm.
Those seven points left by the wayside are now a central issue in the race at the top. In a tight table, where every detail matters, they represent the thin line between chasing and leading. And it is no coincidence that, looking at the standings, the Rossoneri are required to keep pace with Inter, with no more room for distractions.
Milan learning from mistakes to stay attached to Inter:
The second part of the season is always a matter of maturity. Talent is not enough, individual quality is not enough: awareness is needed. Milan today is a different team from the one seen in the opener against Cremonese. It has more certainties, a more solid structure, and greater knowledge of its own limits. But all of this must be proven on the pitch, especially against those who, in the first half, managed to strike at its weak points.
Facing Pisa, Parma, and Cremonese again means measuring how much the group has grown in managing scrappy matches, the kind that are not won by quality alone but with patience, focus, and ruthlessness. This is where winning seasons are built.
Milan and the trio worth more than nine points:
These three challenges are not simply three stops on the calendar: they are a test of maturity. Taking maximum points would mean not only recovering what was lost in the first half of the season, but also sending a clear signal to the league and to their direct rival. On the other hand, stumbling again would mean confirming a fragility that, in the long run, risks compromising title ambitions.
Now, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao are called upon to show that the team has learned from its mistakes. Because the Scudetto is not won only by beating the big teams, but above all by avoiding repeating the same errors. Pisa, Parma, and Cremonese are there to remind them. It is up to the Rossoneri to turn an old regret into a new opportunity.
Speaking of maturity and moving forward, yesterday (February 9) was Niclas Füllkrug’s birthday, he blew out 33 candles, but he hopes to celebrate again in four months when the decision on his buyout from West Ham arrives. The German striker, who scored the match-winning goal against Lecce, hopes to stay in Milan. He is very happy with the team, loves the city, and is proud to wear the Rossoneri shirt.
But everything depends on him and the performances he delivers between now and the end of the season. Füllkrug will have to fight hard to earn a starting spot and, above all, make the most of his chances in the penalty area. For example, in Bologna he should have done much better when, near the end, he had two big opportunities in front of the opposing goalkeeper. He needs to stand out and be decisive. Only then will he be able to secure his place.
AC Milan would need to pay around €5 million to buy his card on a permanent basis from West Ham, a fee within the club’s reach, but before making the deal permanent, they want to see convincing performances on the pitch. This is also because his salary would be doubled: from €1.5 million to €3 million by the end of the year.
