Allegri’s wake-up call: Milan’s future plans and a cautious path to Parma

Allegri’s message ahead of Milan’s Parma clash

Massimiliano Allegri, Milan’s head coach, underlined that the club is detailing a clear path for the future, stressing that players must earn the right to wear the Rossoneri jersey ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ennio Tardini for the 11th round of Serie A.

One topic that dominated questions was Mike Maignan’s future. The French goalkeeper has kept a clean sheet in six of 11 appearances across all competitions this season, while his contract at Milan runs until June 2026.

In the session reported by Football Italia, Allegri insisted, “I always tell the players that at Milan we all must work daily with passion to set the stage for results and to earn the right to wear the Milan shirt.”

“Once you leave Milan, returning is not easy. Maignan is a superb keeper, and the club is planning Milan’s future, so the leadership will do its utmost for the squad.”

He then shifted to the broader objective: “We must focus on our primary goal. Finishing the season in the top four is essential to return to the Champions League.”

Milan head to Parma, a venue known for testing the visitors, and Allegri acknowledged that Parma’s recent form—bar two points in five games—will demand a disciplined performance from his side.”

“Parma relies on long balls and aerial duels; Playing at Barma isn’t easy, and we even lost there last year. This season we have just one point against Pisa and Cremonese, so we must be mentally ready for a tough match.”

He added, “We must stay on the same mental level as Parma. If we match their pace, our higher technical quality should surface.”

Under Allegri, Milan have become tougher to beat; their goals conceded tally sits at seven in ten league games, second only to Roma’s five. “I asked the players to reduce goals against; the number matters more in the long run if you want a specific league position. If you concede 50 goals, you’d need 150 goals to reach the top four.”

“We also need to improve our goalscoring rate; not every six chances should end without a goal,” he noted.

The Parma match acts as the last hurdle before the November international break, with the league resuming on November 23 in a fiery Milan derby against Inter.

On the derby horizon, Allegri said, “We won’t think about it now. We focus on tomorrow’s match, which is worth three points, just like any derby day.”

Polisic’s return

Separately, Allegri confirmed that Christian Pulisic will be available after a hamstring issue kept him sidelined. The American trained twice with the squad and is in good physical shape; his exact involvement will depend on progression in the final days before kick-off.

“We’ve seen Pulisic train twice and he’s in good condition. He won’t need much work to regain match fitness,” the coach said.

As for the rest of the squad, Allegri noted that Leão and other attackers showed good signs against Roma, while some players continue to progress in their return from setbacks. The focus remains on collective performance and minimal errors, especially after a first-half spell against Roma that offered lessons rather than celebrations.

With the current defensive sturdiness—seven goals conceded in ten Serie A games—Milan aim to keep tightening the screws and ensure a consistent push for Europe’s premier competition. “The objective is clear: fewer concessions and more clinical finishing,” he concluded.

The upcoming fixture against Parma represents a crucial step in Milan’s season, a test of mental strength and tactical discipline as they head into the international break. If Milan maintain this level, the top-four chase could become a much more comfortable ride than expected.

Punchline time: If Milan’s defense gets any tighter, even the paparazzi will need a hard hat. Punchline two: Parma’s long balls are so ambitious, Allegri might start calling the skies his second back four. And yes, if you’re reading this from the bench, you’ve earned a laugh—sniper-style, because football jokes travel faster than some cross-field passes.