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.”
ANTONIO CONTE DEMANDS RUTHLESS FINISHING DESPITE NAPOLI’S CRUCIAL ONE ZERO CAGLIARI WIN
Antonio Conte celebrates Napoli's fourth straight win and a rare clean sheet following a 1-0 victory over Cagliari.
After the 1-0 win at Cagliari, Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, shared his thoughts with DAZN. He pointed out that getting key players back is important, though he said they must be fully fit. Anguissa and McTominay aren’t quite there yet, while Kevin De Bruyne looked good. Lobotka struggled a bit, and there’s hope that Rrahmani and Di Lorenzo can return to full fitness soon. Conte admitted that competing for the title won’t be easy, especially with players like Neres posing a challenge. He emphasised that Napoli has held steady over seven months, and now the focus shifts to securing Champions League qualification. They’re aware that other teams are chasing the same spot, but there’s no reason to stop pushing forward. Today’s result puts a bit of pressure on the teams ahead.
Regarding the midfield and attacking midfield, Conte said the team made too many mistakes and could have controlled the game better, especially since Cagliari weren’t pressing hard. They pushed for a second goal in the second half, and as always, anything can happen in these tight matches. The three points are valuable, but they remain cautious because it doesn’t take much to be overtaken.
On the importance of keeping a clean sheet, Conte highlighted that after 11 games without one, it was crucial not to concede. Cagliari didn’t manage a single shot on target, showing how well Napoli defended. He praised the commitment and understanding of the players, though he admits the team still struggles a bit with finishing their chances.
At the press conference, Conte expanded on the need for clinical finishing. He noted that going up 2-0 would have eased pressure, as a 1-0 lead is always fragile; a momentary lapse or scramble can let the opponent back in. Still, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, especially given the challenges over the past seven months. With more players returning from injury, Conte has more options to change things up during matches, bringing in fresh energy and quality.
When asked about the double playmaker setup with McTominay and De Bruyne, Conte described it as an ongoing process rather than something new. The midfield lineup can vary, Lobotka alongside Anguissa or McTominay with Gilmour, for example, but the underlying idea remains consistent. He acknowledged that relying on two playmakers might reduce physicality at times, though it improves passing quality. Since November, they’ve stuck with this four-man midfield system because it suits their style and creates problems for opponents.
Conte also expressed satisfaction with the clean sheet, especially as this was their fourth consecutive win ahead of the international break. He recalled the frustration following a loss in Bologna and welcomed the chance to regroup over the next two weeks before facing Milan. Preventing shots on target was a key success today, but there’s still room to improve in finishing. Being more ruthless in front of the goal remains a priority.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ ADMITS DREAM RETURN TO RACING CLUB AMID INTER CONTRACT
Lautaro Martinez reveals his dream to return to Racing Club, while remaining committed to Inter Milan until 2029.
Lautaro Martinez is still the heart of Inter, but you can tell Racing Club is never far from his mind. He left Argentina for Inter back in 2018, but Racing fans haven’t forgotten him; he’s a legend to them. Lautaro even joked that his long-term plan is to “convince” his wife to head back home with him one day.
He’s got deep roots in Argentina. He came up through Racing’s youth system, banged in 27 goals in 62 games, and became a fan favourite before heading to Italy. Now, he’s one of Serie A’s sharpest strikers. He scored 18 goals and had four assists this season, giving Inter a solid lead over AC Milan. Still, no matter how well he’s doing in Italy, that bond with his old club hasn’t faded.
But moving back isn’t just his call; it’s a family thing. Lautaro talked about this during an interview with Racing Radio, joking about how his wife has got used to life in Milan. He said, “Coming back to racing is my dream: I’m working on convincing my wife, and luckily, she supports me. Of course, there’s a bunch to think about – family stuff, how I’ll feel physically. But my dream is to return for at least a year. I just don’t know when.”
He also mentioned how much he wants his kids to experience the racing love for themselves. He’s tied to Inter until 2029 and made it clear he’s committed to the club right now. “I’ve got three more years here at Inter. I want to stay at this level as long as I can. I feel good; I’m still young, but one day, I want my kids to see how much racing means to me and to its fans.”
Lautaro spoke fondly about Diego Milito, Racing’s current president and Inter icon, who’s basically been a mentor since Lautaro started. They talk every week, and when Lautaro got injured, Milito reached out. Lautaro sent his own message of support for Racing, since the club has been struggling lately.
Lautaro also recalled his last visit to Racing’s training ground, where he ran into coach Gustavo Costas. Costas teased him: “Stick around; we’re waiting for you. Come back next year, play in the World Cup, then come home.” Lautaro said the urge to return never goes away. Racing gave him the chance to be who he is now, and he’s never forgotten it.
