Milan ended the 2025-26 season with a narrow failure to meet their minimum objective, mirroring the idea of winning by the smallest margin. Entering the final game week, they needed at least a draw against Cagliari to secure a top-four finish, with Juventus drawing as well. After a strong period following a derby win over Inter, the team suffered a mental and sporting collapse over the next 10 matches, earning only 10 points with three wins and six losses. The decline reflected both defensive issues and an attack that became blunt after a shift to a 3-5-2 system, leaving forwards often out of position and producing few multi-goal games.
"Allegri and his team entered the final game week of 2025-26 needing at least a draw against Cagliari (as it turned out, with Juventus drawing) to secure a top-four finish in Serie A. What followed was a mental and sporting collapse that perfectly encapsulated the sustained implosion at the club over the last two months."
"Following their derby triumph over Inter on the 8th of March 2026, Milan were sitting pretty in second, with a nine-point cushion over fifth-placed Roma and seven points shy of Inter in first. The title race was well and truly on. Then came the Armageddon."
"Over the next 10 games, Milan earned 10 points, winning just three and losing six of their matches. Had they maintained this form over the course of the entire season, they would have finished level with Lecce in 17th place. Dropped points were not merely the product of a fragile defence, but also of a blunt attack."
"At the start of the season, Allegri sought to shore up the backline by implementing a 3-5-2 system. In fixing one problem, he created another, sacrificing attacking firepower and intent in pursuit of defensive stability. The result was an ill-suited forward line, with players frequently deployed out of position. Unsurprisingly, Milan scored two or more goals in only 14 of their 38 league matches."
Read at SempreMilan
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