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.”
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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