AC Milan are hopeful of sealing a return to the Champions League in the coming weeks, and they have a defence to build on.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall, Massimiliano Allegri denounced Milan’s ‘poor perception of danger’ after the first defeat of the season against Cremonese. Now, with statistically the best defence in the league, it seems that the hazard perception has improved a lot.
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The merit of Max’s work is clear. The best rearguard in Serie A is the same one that a year ago, at the same point in the season, had conceded 11 more goals and was only the ninth-best in Italy. Ninth, like their position in the table.
Allegri is right again when he says that ‘if you don’t concede, you’re already halfway there’ because his protected Milan are now in second place in Serie A. Compared to the same point in 2024-25, Max’s team have scored three fewer goals. The difference lies in the defence.
Strong foundations
To build a team that can reach the top, a stable platform is needed. Milan have the second-best defence in Europe: only Arsenal, with 26 goals conceded in the same 33 games as the Rossoneri, have let in less goals.
They have the best defence in the Premier League (and in the top five European leagues) and the best overall standing. In this case, the team that concedes the least are not top of the table, with Manchester City having gone ahead on goals scored.
It remains a statistic that actually almost always proceeds in parallel, another Allegri paradigm. Milan are an exception: in Serie A they are second, but ahead of the rest of the top four competition, even Napoli (equal points) thanks to goal difference (same goals scored, six fewer conceded).
Looking around Europe, PSG have conceded 25, but in 29 games. By calculation, the Rossoneri average is 0.81 goals allowed per game and 0.86 for PSG. In relation to the minutes played, Milan hold up better than the French and European champions.
Individual growth
Credit goes to the midfielders who cover and the wing-backs who drop back, but the performance of the central defenders themselves has improved the most. Matteo Gabbia’s performance is emblematic: with him on the pitch, Milan have lost only once (the season opener vs. Cremonese).
Strahinja Pavlovic has done even better: under Allegri’s management, his performances have improved dramatically. A year ago, he wasn’t even considered a starter, but now there is talk of a well-earned renewal coming to fend off Premier League interest.
Behind the three untouchables of Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Mike Maignan, the two central defenders occupy fourth and fifth in average Gazzetta ratings. Fikayo Tomori was also on and off the bench last season, without finding consistency. Now, he has returned to the England national team.
Newcomer Koni De Winter has performed well, making 24 appearances and one goal in Serie A in his first season with the Rossoneri. After an uncertain start, it was the usual training sessions with Allegri that made him almost unbeatable.
The only player missing is the very young David Odogu, 19 years old, who has played just five minutes in Serie A and has been sent to play three times with Milan Futuro. He could be Max’s next big bet, while waiting to see what the market brings.
“The merit of Max’s work is clear. The best rearguard in Serie A is the same one that a year ago, at the same point in the season, had conceded 11 more goals and was only the ninth-best in Italy. Ninth, like their position in the table.”
You seem to keep forgetting that we were in fact 8th last season, not 9th. Bologna was behind us in the 9th place, we had 63 points, Bologna had 62.
7 good investments are needed in case reaching UCL.
Strong wing left back. Strong wing right back. Strong central forward. Strong midfielder.
If Jashari leaves – new one for him. And 2 more players.
I would definitely sell Chukwueze. Musah if he must go if not loan again. Nkunku, Estupinan.
Hard to tell about ruben loftus cheek.
And we are ready to go.
Bennacer will return once again, believe it or not…
At the present level which we have reached with this squad, any new player must be top class. Milan cannot afford to sign anymore average players. If our entire transfer budget for next season can only enable us to sign 3 or 4 players so be it. No more average players.
Yea but that’s only because we’re playing 3 at the back and our approach is very defensive. Restructure this team back to a 433 and watch the goals flow in.