Allegri Teases Pulisic Comeback and Milan's Attacking Blueprint for Roma

Allegri Unveils Pulisic's Return Timeline and Milan's Roma Gameplan

Massimiliano Allegri, Milan's head coach, outlined when Christian Pulisic is expected to return to action and previewed the likely starting XI for the Roma clash in Serie A's tenth round. He confirmed that Rafael Leao and Christopher Nkunku will be in the front line.

Allegri expressed confidence that Pulisic will be back to play against Parma next week, but he did not confirm whether the American will be called up by the United States for November friendlies.

In the pre-match press conference for the Roma game, Allegri said Leao is ready while Tomori's availability is uncertain; there is no serious issue, and the situation is manageable.

He added that Pulisic should return against Parma, while the situation for Rabiot is more delicate. It remains to be seen if Gimenez will feature tomorrow or return against Parma. Estupiñán is in good shape, though one other player trained only once and is unlikely to be on the bench tomorrow.

Allegri also noted that Milan will decide closer to kickoff whether Pulisic reappears against Parma and then links up with his country. The club remains in constant contact with all national-team coaches to keep them updated on players' status.

According to the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan's CEO Giorgio Forlani had entered talks with US Soccer officials in October to persuade them not to call Pulisic for upcoming friendlies.

With Pulisic out and Gimenez not fully fit, Allegri is expected to lean on Nkunku in the attack for the Roma match.

He added that Nkunku is ready and could start; he is a highly skilled player and the team expects a lot from him. It is possible Nkunku could operate as a central striker like Leao, but the squad can also function without a traditional number nine.

Allegri said Leao and Nkunku will lead Milan's attack against Roma, while warning that unlocking Leao's best form is not always easy, signaling a need for focus and consistency.

Milan will host Roma at San Siro on Sunday night, one of the standout fixtures of the tenth round of Serie A.

The Rossoneri come into the match after two consecutive draws, while Roma sit atop the table with the league's strongest defense. Allegri remarked that Roma have conceded only four goals and always feel capable of scoring, but stressed the need for Milan to deliver more consistent results.

Tomorrow, Allegri will face his former Juventus teammate Paulo Dybala and spoke about his qualities, noting Dybala's development since arriving in Turin at age 21, his high scoring rate and intelligent movement, and his generally accurate finishing.

Allegri also commented that Soli is improving, and that Roma features players like Beligni and Cristante, which helps explain why they currently sit top of the standings.

He then discussed the league's tougher fixtures, acknowledging that facing Gasperini's teams is never easy; he recalled several challenging matches in a short span and described Bergamo's Tuesday game as among the season's most physically demanding.

He emphasized that ball control will be decisive tomorrow. A few mistakes could boost the opponent's confidence, as seen in Bergamo, so Milan must maintain possession and composure.

Finally, Allegri spoke about seeing Leao and Nkunku play together, noting that sometimes unusual combinations pay off. Both players are capable of shining in tandem.

He also commented on Rafael, saying it is not easy to enter Leao's mindset; Leao performed well in the opening month, then suffered an injury, but is improving now. He remains not fully ready, though his commitment is clear.

Allegri confirmed that Luka Modric will start in midfield; he is in good shape and has become a key reference for the team, after a season where Milan had to chase at times and improve in ball retention.

In closing, Allegri touched on the appointment of Luciano Spalletti as Juventus coach and the title race, noting that Napoli and Inter remain the main contenders, with a group competing for the top four including Milan, Juventus, Roma and Lazio; Bologna and Como are also delivering strong performances, and the best side will win in the end.

He concluded that the main goal remains returning to the Champions League, with balance and steadiness after two draws, aiming to be in a strong position in March. The early months are crucial for building a solid base for the second half of the season, so the focus should be on work rather than overthinking.

Punchline: If this plan actually works, Allegri will owe us a celebratory speech and maybe a pizza—extra cheese, of course.

Punchline 2: My brain just registered a formation called "coffee and capers"—works better than half the squads, apparently.