GdS: Departments and individuals - the five bets Allegri is still hoping to win

"In Max's mind, the objective is clear: finish in the top four. There's a big difference between fighting for first and fourth, however. The former would yield second-star Scudetto while the latter is the bare minimum required by the owners. Up until now, Allegri has never openly uttered the word Scudetto. On the contrary, he's been repeating over and over that Napoli and Inter are the favourites and that the Rossoneri's true obligation is to return to the Champions League."

"The obvious goal is to relieve Milanello of as much pressure as possible by handing it over to the others. The problem is that, at this point, Milan can't hide: the standings , despite the struggles against lower-ranked opponents, are looking good. The string of results achieved against their direct rivals is another reason for optimism, even if the disappointing exits from the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa have dampened things. Defensive cohesion must be restored, and signings are needed."

"The cornerstone on which Allegri, as always, builds everything else is the defensive unit. Here too, he's repeating it endlessly: in the end, in the vast majority of cases, the one who concedes the fewest goals wins, not the one who scores the most. Compared to last season, Max has rebuilt the defensive line. There's focus, there's unity, there's a change in system that has benefited everyone."

Allegri expects Milan to aim for a top-four finish in 2025-26, viewing Champions League qualification as the minimum objective. He acknowledges Napoli and Inter as favourites and has avoided publicly claiming a Scudetto push. Recent signings, including a centre-forward addition, reflect intentions to strengthen the squad. League standings look positive despite inconsistent performances against lower-ranked teams and exits from domestic cups. Defensive cohesion remains the foundational priority. A rebuilt defensive line has shown unity and system benefits compared to last season, but recent concessions — six goals in three games — serve as a warning requiring further reinforcement and signings.

Read at SempreMilan