Allegri gives thoughts on Leao's position and bats away Scudetto talk: "It's too early"

"Milan ended 2025 with a victory and a clean sheet against Hellas Verona at San Siro on December 28, but they were made to work a lot harder for all three points against Cagliari at the Unipol Domus on Friday night, prevailing 1-0 in the end thanks to Rafael Leao's second-half strike. After weathering a first-half storm, the Rossoneri provided the one moment of quality."

"When he's in the middle, he's more alive in the game. When he plays on the left, he sometimes falls asleep and drops out of the game. He has the quality and the skills to play as a centre-forward. He still needs to find top form."

"In the first half we allowed three shots on target in the first couple of minutes, so I was worried, but as time wore on we got into the game. We were also slipping and sliding a lot out there, the passes were misplaced, but in the second half Cagliari lost intensity and we stepped up a gear. We had more chances to score a second where we absolutely should've done better."

AC Milan beat Cagliari 1-0 at the Unipol Domus courtesy of Rafael Leao's second-half strike following Adrien Rabiot's run and cut-back. Milan absorbed early Cagliari pressure but improved after the break, creating more chances and securing a clean sheet. Conditions caused slipping and some misplaced passes, yet Milan stepped up as Cagliari lost intensity. Allegri said Leao is livelier when played centrally and possesses the skills for a centre-forward role, though he still needs to reach top form. Allegri emphasized team spirit, the value of the clean sheet, and that title talk is premature with several teams close on points.

Read at SempreMilan