"We have to take it one step at a time. The goal is to finish in the top four, and to get there you have to work very, very hard, so we need to keep quiet."
We opened like this, quoting Massimiliano Allegri from his most recent press conference on the eve of Roma-Milan, to express the core idea of Milan’s season. A quote that, on paper, does not fully convey its meaning. Because the most important part of that message, which Milan’s coach has been repeating since July, was his expression. The tone was firm, angry even, to say the least.
An objective not to lose sight of:
Few things make the usually polite and smiling Allegri angry. One is when his team fails to follow his instructions on the pitch. Another is referees making incorrect decisions, his jackets know something about that. And finally, declaring one objective instead of another. Exactly what has been happening since September, perhaps since the win over Napoli, whenever people talk about his Milan. Everyone asking about the Scudetto, everyone asking for that extra step that might be within reach but would certainly make heads spin and risk losing sight of the real focus.
Finishing in the top four:
Yes, because Milan’s main objective, after last season’s eighth-place finish, is and will always be returning to the Champions League. It does not matter how, it does not matter from which position, but they must enter through the main door. The top four spots in the standings.
“A Champions League place is not something we are entitled to, it has to be earned step by step. This is Italian football, and a major injection of money comes from the Champions League,” another quote that once again underlines how important qualification for Europe’s top competition would be for a club like Milan.
As Milan push forward in their effort to secure a Champions League place, attention also turns to the upcoming fixtures that will shape this decisive phase of the season. For Rossoneri fans eager to follow Milan’s next match and test their instincts while watching Allegri’s side extend their current unbeaten run, bet way represents a familiar option in the football betting landscape. With Milan focused on grinding out results and protecting their position in the top four, the margins are tight, and every match carries added weight for supporters tracking both performance and momentum.
Allegri knows it well...
And the signs are all there in his post-match comments. Allegri is focused solely on his personal objective, finishing in the top four. That is why every point matters, even the one earned at home against Genoa, which many struggled to digest, because it represents another brick in the wall called the Champions League. And there is no doubt that, when looking at the current table after 22 matchdays, Allegri is looking downward, not upward. Inter at +5 only matters to a certain extent. Napoli and Roma at -4, and Juventus in fifth at -5, are the real concerns for the Rossoneri coach.
Because there will be dips in form, some have already happened. There will be crises, both for his team and for others. There will be undeserved points gained and points dropped when they were deserved, just as defeats will come. What must never be lost, however, is the main objective. Because returning to the Champions League is Milan’s true obligation. Everything else, as Allegri knows well, is just background.
Meanwhile, Milan are working to strengthen the team in the future:
Milan remain faithful to their stated strategy, moving only when real opportunities arise. As reported by Corriere dello Sport, the Rossoneri continue to monitor the market without forcing deals, working on multiple fronts with a view to the summer and assessing any openings that might appear in the short term.
One of the first names on the list is Mario Gila. Milan have made inquiries and would have liked to try to move early by bringing the defender to Milanello immediately. Lazio, however, are unlikely to part with the player during the season. The deal remains alive, but it is more likely to be structured and completed in the next summer window.
Goretzka between intrigue and slowdown, the Loftus-Cheek issue
Among the monitored profiles is also Leon Goretzka, who is set to become a free agent from Bayern Munich in the summer. Milan are maintaining contact with his entourage, but the negotiation remains complicated due to the midfielder’s very high financial demands. In this regard, Tuttosport plays things down and denies advanced scenarios, significantly reducing the chances of a move to Milan.
The situation of Ruben Loftus-Cheek is also one to watch. In the coming days, the Englishman’s agent is expected in the city to discuss possible departures, with Lazio and Aston Villa interested. Should no concrete exit opportunities emerge, Milan will open talks over a contract renewal, assessing the midfielder’s future within the project.
A market, therefore, built on evaluations and careful fits. There are no revolutions, but maximum attention to opportunities that could reshape the squad.
