Massimiliano Allegri’s moves carry as much weight as the goals from Leao and Pulisic, writes today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The ex Juventus coach’s ideas match Rabiot’s consistency, the solidity of the new defensive line, and the key saves from Mike Maignan. Allegri, according to the newspaper, does not have a squad packed with alternatives like Chivu at Inter or Conte at Napoli, yet he still makes do with the resources available.
He extracts the maximum even from rare bench use, as seen on Monday against Torino when he brought on Pulisic. At the Olimpico Grande Torino, other decisive choices included Ricci’s introduction, who impressed in midfield, and Loftus-Cheek’s role change from midfielder to striker and then wing-back, which pushed Saelemaekers to the left.
Max’s clear-headed management, jacket and coat throws aside, has reignited the Rossoneri fan base. Supporters, largely thanks to the coach, have returned to big ambitions. Allegri repeats that the target remains qualification for the next Champions League, yet this season the title race feels alive and tangible. Last year, first under Fonseca and then under Conceição, Milan never closed the gap on Napoli and Inter.
Allegri works with a reduced squad, agreed with the club after missing out on European competitions. Injuries to Leao, Rabiot, Pulisic, Fofana, and Gimenez limited choices, yet Max has almost always drawn the maximum from those available. One curious statistic follows. Milan stand as the team with the fewest substitutions among the top five European leagues, with 47. Few changes, often decisive. Pulisic turned the match against Torino and scored against Lecce. Athekame scored against Pisa to secure an unexpected draw. Ricci delivered the winning assist for Pulisic in the 3-2 win over Torino. Gimenez, against Fiorentina, earned the penalty that led to Rafa Leao’s winning goal.
A tactical discussion also matters. Allegri started the season planning a 4-3-3. Preseason matches and squad traits pushed a shift toward a 3-5-2, which has delivered the defensive solidity missing in recent seasons. The starting back line of Tomori, Gabbia, and Pavlovic matches last season. The table smiles. Alongside joint first place with Napoli, the Rossoneri post a clear plus nine compared to last season at the same stage. Allegri shows pragmatism and adaptability. For defensive phases, a 5-4-1 appeared without hesitation. A switch to 4-4-2 followed on several occasions to protect the flanks. Future options include a 3-4-2-1 or a bold 3-4-1-2, especially if reinforcements arrive in the January market.
