CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU'S DRY SPELL: ANALYZING ALLEGRI'S PLAN TO UNLOCK THE SKILLED MILAN STAR
Massimiliano Allegri confirms Rafael Leao is out for the Sassuolo match but available for the Supercoppa. He also urges struggling forward, Christopher Nkunku, to "smile more."
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says his players need to take Sassuolo seriously and thinks Christopher Nkunku needs to lighten up.
Allegri’s Milan will play Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday. The Rossoneri are tied for first place in Serie A with Napoli, both with 31 points.
Milan-Sassuolo: Allegri’s thoughts before the game
Allegri talked about the upcoming game at a press conference, mainly giving updates on injuries: “Leao won’t play tomorrow, but he’ll be back for the Supercoppa. Fofana is back, but he won’t play since he hasn’t practiced. Athekame is in the squad, Gimenez is working on his recovery, and we hope he’ll be back soon,” Allegri said, according to Milan News.
“Sassuolo can cause problems, so we have to be careful and organized when defending. If we’re not focused, they’ll make things tough, and the game will get harder. We need to play well in every way tomorrow—technically, physically, and mentally.”
Christopher Nkunku played against Torino but hasn’t scored in his first ten Serie A games.
“He needs to relax. We all wanted him here,” Allegri said.
“His teammates and the club believe in him. I told him he needs to smile more. If he does, things will get better. He’s a good player with skill, and I’m sure he’ll do great things.
“He’s been working hard. In Turin, he helped set up the third goal by making a good run, which opened space for Pulisic. He’s very skilled and can score.”
Allegri has said that Milan’s main goal is to get into the Champions League, while Inter and Napoli are the favorites to win Serie A.
“They finished first and second last season, so they’re probably still the teams to beat,” he said.
“We’ve brought in a lot of new players. We’re Milan, so we need to aim high and do our best, knowing that we need to get back into the Champions League. We need to take another step forward tomorrow. We’re at the top of the table, but we still have a way to go to reach our goal of Champions League qualification.”
Is it good for Milan not to be playing in Europe?
“I’d rather play every three days in the Champions League. That’s what we’re working towards,” Allegri said.
“People talk about the pros and cons, but I think the key is to have a strong team with good players, a strong club, and an environment that can handle games every three days. That’s what makes a top team. I want to be in the Champions League, and that’s what we’re trying to do. I don’t think playing often makes you prepare worse, but it’s possible.”
Santiago Gimenez is still injured and hasn’t scored in Serie A yet. Will Milan sign a new striker in January?
“I need to find solutions with the players we have,” Allegri said.
“The club will watch the market, but we’re focused on tomorrow’s game. Then, we’ll think about the Supercoppa.”
Is Ardon Jashari ready to fill in for Luka Modric if he needs a rest before the Supercoppa?
“Jashari has improved a lot. I’ll decide based on how he looks in tomorrow’s game,” Allegri said.
“After the game, we’ll see who’s tired, who’s fresh, and who’s hurt.”
Milan have won their big games this season but have lost points against weaker teams. Fikayo Tomori has lost focus at times, but Allegri isn’t blaming him.
“It’s not just Tomori. It’s a team thing. We let in two goals against Torino, Pisa, Parma, and Cremonese,” he said.
“We need to do better in certain situations. We can’t be down two goals early in the game. It happens sometimes, but we need to avoid it.
“This team works hard and does what we ask. They have a goal: to stay at Milan and make a mark on the club’s history,” the coach added.
“We need to stay focused and ignore the noise. The goal is to be in the top four by May 25 because Milan needs to be in the Champions League next season.”
MARCO PALESTRA REFUSES TO LET INTER RUMORS DISTRACT FROM CAGLIARI’S RELEGATION BATTLE
Marco Palestra addresses Inter Milan rumours. Read why the Atalanta loanee is prioritising Cagliari's safety.
Marco Palestra isn’t shutting the door on a move to Inter this summer, but right now, his mind’s on one thing: saving Cagliari’s spot in Serie A. “We’ll see in the summer,” he said.
This season’s been a bit of a whirlwind for him. At just 21, he’s made a serious name for himself, breaking through during his loan at Cagliari and earning his first runs with Italy’s national team. Sure, the World Cup play-off loss in Bosnia still stings for everyone, but it hasn’t stopped the buzz around Palestra’s future.
He’s still under contract at Atalanta until 2029, but after his performances, clubs have started circling, especially Inter, who look set to take the league. At an event in Coverciano on Monday, reporters pressed him about his plans. Palestra kept it close to the chest, just saying it’s flattering to hear big clubs are interested, and he’ll figure it out in the summer.
“I honestly didn’t imagine this at the start of the season,” Palestra said. “I was just trying to focus day by day, just trying to get better and not thinking too far ahead.” He still sees room to grow, which makes sense given his age. “Everyone at 21 has a lot to learn. I need to improve in everything, really. I’ve had two seasons now in Serie A, and there’s always more to pick up from my teammates and coach.”
The Inter rumours keep swirling, but when you ask him about it, his answer’s steady: it’s about Cagliari right now. “I’m only thinking about Cagliari. Safety comes first. The rumours are flattering, sure, but we’ll handle all that later.” He echoed it again: “I’m 100% focused on Cagliari. They deserve that. I’ll talk things through with my agents when the season’s done, but I don’t want any distractions right now.”
The sting of Italy missing the World Cup again is still fresh for him. “The loss in Bosnia was a heavy blow for all of us. The days after weren’t easy. But we have to regroup and come back stronger. This group is special, and we’ll help each other recover and improve.”
As for how he handled the disappointment? “It was tough, especially at first. I just stayed home, replaying what went wrong over and over. But I had to snap out of it for Cagliari’s sake. Now, staying up in Serie A is all that matters.”
LUCIANO SPALLETTI OFFICIALLY EXTENDS JUVENTUS TENURE UNTIL 2028 AFTER IMPRESSIVE INTERIM SPELL
Juventus coach Spalletti extends his contract until 2028. Get the latest on the Serie A top-four race and match news.
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti just signed a new two-year deal with the club, capping off a promising six months at the helm.
He broke the news to his players first, right before Friday’s training session. Not long after, Juventus posted a video of Spalletti sharing the update. “I wanted you to hear it from me before anyone else,” he told the squad. “We’ve decided to extend my contract by another two years. I wanted to tell you before the news got out. Honestly, the road ahead looks tough, but I’m convinced we’ll tackle it together. With your character and your fight, we can turn every challenge into something bigger.”
Spalletti took charge back in October, stepping in after Juventus sacked Igor Tudor. Tudor’s departure came after three straight losses and a long, frustrating stretch without a win. At the time, Juventus handed Spalletti an eight-month contract. The word was, he'd get an automatic two-year extension if the team qualified for the Champions League.
Right now, Juventus sits just outside the Champions League spots, one point back from fourth-place Como, with seven games left in the season.
“When I joined seven months ago, the club gave me this short contract,” Spalletti explained. “The idea was simple: let’s give it some time, get to know each other, then decide at the end of the season if we want to keep going.”
Back then, Juventus sat in seventh place, fighting just to stay in Europe. In the Champions League, they were already scrambling to avoid elimination.
Things have improved since Spalletti took over. Juventus has picked up 17 wins, six losses, and eight draws in 31 matches. They managed to push through to the Champions League playoffs, though Galatasaray knocked them out.
Club CEO Damien Comolli praised Spalletti’s impact. “Since joining us, Luciano’s made a real difference on the pitch, around the club, and among our fans,” Comolli said. “He’s exactly the kind of leader we need. His ambitious football matches what we all expect from Juventus, and he stands for what our club’s all about. So, we want to keep going with him. We believe stability and continuity are key to reaching our goals.”
Juventus hasn’t lifted the Serie A trophy since 2020, when they wrapped up a run of nine straight titles.
Before arriving in Turin, Spalletti led Napoli to the Serie A title in 2023, then took charge of Italy’s national team. That stint didn’t go well; he lost his job last June after a shaky start in World Cup qualifying. Now, he’s got another shot to lead a powerhouse club.
