AC Milan’s recent run of form has been far from ideal, highlighting some critical issues for Massimiliano Allegri to fix.
Exactly two months ago, Milan beat Inter 1-0 in the derby to relaunch their Scudetto bid. Since that victory, just two wins in seven league games have followed. The recent stretch of one goal in the last five matches has made it clear there is a crisis in attack, too.
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While the media continue to speculate about whether Allegri will even last beyond the season, there are nine points up for grabs from which the Rossoneri must take six (at most) in order to secure a spot in the 2026-27 edition of the Champions League.
Without a top four spot there would almost certainly be huge repercussions that might even impact the manager’s fate. For now though he must focus on fixing the problems that the team have demonstrated in the past few weeks, which Rohit Rajeev has diagnosed.
Early crosses
The early cross can be an extremely effective weapon, particularly because it catches defenders before they are fully set and organised.
However, in matches against Juventus and Sassuolo, Milan repeatedly delivered early balls into the box through Saelemaekers without having sufficient attacking presence inside the area. On several occasions, there was not a single Milan player positioned to attack the delivery.
This raises a fundamental issue in Milan’s attacking structure: what is the purpose of crossing if there are no runners occupying the box or threatening the defensive line?
Without co-ordinated movements and central presence, these deliveries become low-percentage actions that merely surrender possession rather than create danger.
Counter threat
Counter-attacks remain a central component of Allegri’s attacking principles. The idea is to draw opponents forward, exploit the space left behind, and break quickly with multiple runners attacking the transition.
However, Milan have consistently struggled to commit sufficient numbers forward during these moments.
The same pattern was visible against both Juventus and Sassuolo. Against Juventus, Modrić led a transition but quickly became isolated, with no advanced passing options available to sustain the attack.
A similar scenario occurred against Sassuolo, where Milan entered transition phases without enough supporting runners, causing potentially dangerous counter-attacks to lose momentum before they could truly threaten the opposition.
The front two
In a 3-5-2 system, a significant portion of the attacking threat is expected to come from the front two operating in tandem and complementing each other’s movements.
While both Pulisic and Leão possess qualities that allow them to function as second strikers, they are naturally wingers by profile and instinct.
Against Verona, concerns emerged regarding how frequently they occupied similar zones, and the same issue was evident again against Juventus.
When both attackers drift into the same spaces, it reduces the effectiveness of the partnership: one player effectively removes himself from the attacking equation whenever the other is in possession.
Rather than creating staggered movements and complementary angles, Milan’s front line becomes easier to contain due to the lack of spatial separation and coordinated occupation of different channels.
Switching off
Another recurring defensive vulnerability for Milan has been their susceptibility to switches of play. Opponents frequently attempt to draw Milan’s defensive block toward one side – most commonly the right flank – before rapidly switching the ball to the opposite side to exploit the exposed space.
This pattern was evident against Juventus, who scored from such a sequence before the goal was ruled out for offside.
Sassuolo, however, successfully capitalised on the same mechanism, with Berardi scoring after Milan’s defensive structure had been shifted across and left vulnerable on the far side.
So, for all the good work that the coach has done this season, to build the unbeaten streak and create a gap to fifth place, there is still more to be done on the training ground.
Granted, in the heat of battle it can be hard to transmit new schemes an instructions, but with the Diavolo in freefall something is needed at both ends to re-solidify the defence and get the team scoring.
Allegri as a coach has made his name as a problem-solver and a man-manager. The next 270 minutes will tell us if he is able to deliver the minimum objective for the season, with the help of his team of course.
They have always won, when either Pulicic or Leao scored. These two have been on a significant slump, and nothing is going to change, unless these two buck up.
I disagree, the biggest problem is the system not the players. Yes, confidence of all the attackers is low and that is now a factor but the real issue is the “park the bus” 10 men behind the ball formation. Every single forward is in a funk because the system is devoid of offensive patterns of play. Starting with players being shoe-horned into unnatural positions that do not utilize their skill sets and a system that leaves them isolated and triple teamed by defenses with no support and no wingers to provide service in the box. There is zero offensive intent in this system and it relies on individual brilliance and not team play to generate goals. Logic tells you that if players with a long history of success ALL cannot score it’s the system not the players.
Completely agree with your comment. Our attacking group is now completely demoralized and worn down because of the system we’re playing.
Since midseason, teams have figured us out. Our approach has become very predictable, and it’s not difficult for opponents to defend. We consistently play behind the midfield, with the majority of our passes going sideways or backward rather than creating meaningful attacking opportunities.
Unfortunately, I don’t see that changing over the next three games.
Dom correct
There’s no park the bus formation. What are you watching? If Allegri played park the bus, we’d see that in the possession stats. There’s a lack of ideas, especially in attack, the forwards have no chemistry.
Couldnt agree more. When in attack, it seems like the team does not know how to break the opponent defensive line. No tactics in attacking phase. In the last 1/3 of this season, sometime Milan won just because of individual shine (frequently, rabiot and modric).
The coach has been playing Leao out of position and without any intent to win games. With this attitude only luck will see Milan qualify for champions league. Look at the match with Sassoulo ,no single shot at target.
Are u joking ‘Allegri made his name with problem solving and man management? He is rubbish. I will give him the first one he won with Milan. But all other trophies he won with Juve- I would give credits to Cobte and Marrota.
SUDAH ALLEGRI MENGUNDURKAN DIRI DARI SEKARANG, DARIPADA DI PECAT OLEH CARDINALE DAN FURLANI. YANG MEMANG DI INGINKAN OLEH FURLANI, PEMILIK DAN MANAJEMEN Lainnya. PERCUMA KALAU MASIH ADA CARDINALE,FURLANI DAN SCARLONI MASIH MEMIMPIN MILAN. MILAN SUDAH SAATNYA REVOLUSI TOTAL DARI CARDINALE, FURLANI, SCARLONI DAN MANAJEMEN TERENDAH. MEREKA SEMUA TIDAK ADA AMBISIUS MEMBAWA MILAN SCUDETTO,JUARA LIGA CHAMPION, MENJADI JUARA CLUB EROPA DAN JUARA CLUB DUNIA. MEREKA AMBISIUS PEMBISNIS DAN MEMBAWA MILAN MENJADI CLUB YANG TERLEMAH DAN CLUB YANG BARU PROMOSI DARI LIGA SERI B. SUDAH SAATNYA FANS MILAN BOIKOT DAN MOSI TIDAK PERCAYA KEPADA CARDINALE, FURLANI SCARLONI DAN SEMUA PENGURUS MANAJEMEN.