After starting the season in the worst possible way by losing at home to a newly promoted side, Milan has not looked back since. The potential disruption of the international breaks has failed to interrupt the Rossoneri’s stride, with Allegri’s team coming back stronger each time and, at the time of writing, sitting on top of Serie A.
After the immense disappointment of last season, there were many who questioned the return of Allegri and whether the new players brought in over the summer would be enough to help Milan challenge for the title – or at least a European place – again, It is still early days, of course, but now many of the top online sports betting sites have Milan as one of the favourites to claim the scudetto this season.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
There was something of a relaunch over the offseason, as the club attempted to put the pain of the 2024-25 season behind it. Initially, some of the signings were questioned – even the arrival of Luka Modrić from Real Madrid – but the new players have instantly clicked with the existing squad and provided Allegri with a team that understands his footballing philosophy and is able to win the type of games that it was struggling with last term.
Much like Mikel Arteta’s revolution at EPL side Arsenal, the club has been able to get rid of players who had been holding it back in the last few seasons, even if they were sometimes fans’ favorites and established internationals. This group seems to have a better understanding of how the team can improve and go forward as one – and Rossoneri fans are embracing the change.
It seems incredible now to think that Modrić’s arrival, in particular, was greeted with skepticism. Even though the Croatia international has now turned 40, he has shown that his tactical know-how and ball play have not diminished at all. He has been instrumental to the success of Milan this season and, if he remains fit and healthy, could be a major reason why this team could challenge for another league title.
Modrić has provided leadership in the middle of the pitch, which has permeated through the rest of the team. But he has also shown that he is no liability because of his age. His commitment to tracking back and winning the ball has proven to be an inspiration to the younger members of the Milan side, some of whom are literally half his age.
Modrić has been joined by a number of other players who have instantly taken to the San Siro, with the likes of Adrien Rabiot, Pervis Estupiñán, and Christopher Nkunku providing invaluable talent to a squad that was already full of good players, but ones who were not performing to the levels expected.
One of the other reasons why there is so much excitement surrounding this Milan team is that the fans know that the scudetto is the only thing it is playing for this year. There will be the Coppa Italia to deal with later in the season, of course, but a lack of European football adds more credence to the idea that Milan could win the league. Antonio Conte and Napoli benefited from more rest between games and a lack of distractions last year, and Milan will be in the same position this season.
Milan may well have started the season brightly, but there are a number of caveats to the belief that it can easily go on to win the title for a 20th time – a feat that earns it the right to add another star to the shirt. The main one being that Serie A looks to be a more wide-open race than it has been for a long time this year.
Napoli has not struggled in the same way it did after its last scudetto win, while Roma has improved under new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Juventus is always a danger, while Bologna continues to exceed expectations – even after losing more top players in the summer – and the wealthy backers of Como are beginning to see results on their investment.
Even though Milan is currently looking down on the rest of the league, it is entirely possible that a team could continue to play well and still finish outside of the Champions League places at the end of the season if it loses just a few important games.
That being said, Milan has started the season in fine form and although Max Allegri may not get his sides playing the most aesthetically pleasing style of football, Rossoneri fans who have endured mistakes and lackluster performances in the past will be happy that the current team is able to defend and attack with equal talent. Milan has struggled with injuries so far this season, but there is a lot of anticipation for how well it can do once everyone returns.
Christian Pulisic continues to show how important he is to the side. But a revitalized Rafael Leão will be able to help provide goals, with the likes of Santi Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku also able to add to the tally.
Defensively, the Rossoneri are as strong as anyone – and Allegri’s default tactical position will also help in that regard. Not only does this Milan team feel more balanced than it has in years, but it also seems to be pulling in the same direction. There is a long way to go this season, but Milan is showing every sign that it will be challenging for the scudetto until the final day of the campaign.
