FABIO CAPELLO’S VERDICT: "IF AC MILAN BEAT ROMA, THEY MUST AIM FOR THE SCUDETTO."
Fabio Capello warns AC Milan that, despite their 20-game unbeaten run, they need more "game-changers" to beat Inter to the Scudetto.
Fabio Capello says AC Milan are missing a game-changer like Lautaro Martinez, but if they beat Roma, they should set their sights on the title.
Milan started the 2025-26 season with Massimiliano Allegri back in charge, and after last year’s eighth-place finish, everyone just wanted Champions League football again. So far, they’re doing well—they’ve already built a seven-point gap over fifth place.
But fans aren’t just thinking about fourth anymore. The Rossoneri are only three points off the top, and they haven’t lost in 20 games. That sort of streak hasn’t happened for decades, so now people are starting to believe the Scudetto isn’t out of reach.
Capello talked to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Milan’s title chances, their strikers, and more.
Allegri keeps saying the goal is just top four…
“That’s just Max being Max. He’s too smart to go around shouting about the scudetto. When you climb this high, if you fall, it hurts more. So he keeps his head down, talks about numbers, and keeps everyone grounded.”
Allegri has now gone 20 league games unbeaten after beating Lecce…
“That’s a huge achievement, and it’s down to his work with the team’s mentality. Milan’s got a strong spirit now—you can see it in the way they come back, even when they’re not playing well or are behind.
“Max has put in a lot of effort there, and the only loss in their last 21 games was that opener against Cremonese. That speaks for itself.”
Against Lecce, Milan dominated the second half: 13 shots to 2, 71% possession. Did the criticism after the Como match help?
“No, trust me, Allegri hears the talk, but he knows the team needs to play better. Look at the first half against Lecce—they weren’t great.
“They moved the ball too slowly, the midfielders couldn’t keep up, and half the time, there was just one Milan player up against three Lecce defenders in the box. That’s not the way to score goals.”
Is that because Pulisic and Leao aren’t true centre-forwards?
“Exactly. They’re attackers who like to drift around, drop deep, or pull wide to create something. Pulisic is a bit better at getting into the box, but Leao’s only just learning. Neither of them is Lautaro—you can tell.”
Leao hasn’t looked like himself lately…
“It was obvious. He couldn’t shift gears. Even when he had space to run, he just matched his defender’s speed. That’s not the Leao we know.”
Then Allegri brought in Füllkrug…
“A real number nine. He senses the tiniest defensive mistake and takes advantage, just like he did for the goal. But honestly, the real spark was Rabiot again. He raised his level in the second half.”
Will we see Milan play with a front three soon?
“That all comes down to who’s fit and available. With five subs now, you can switch things up during the game. And with someone as sharp as Max on the bench, it’s even easier to change the setup on the fly.”
There was a moment, with the score still stuck at 0-0, when Milan lined up with three central defenders. Lecce didn’t even have a proper striker on the field. Isn’t that a bit much?
Allegri said he wanted the two wing-backs to handle preventive marking and ramp up the pressure. Honestly, it’s about time. Milan has this habit of dropping back and letting teams crowd their penalty area, especially against sides they should be bossing. Sometimes you have to push forward and defend by pressing, not just by sitting deep.
Some of the backups looked better against Lecce. Has Jashari finally convinced you?
Yeah, he did better than he has in his last few games. But you know what? As soon as Modric came on, you could just see the difference. That long ball he played to Nkunku was unreal. No comparison.
Modric’s definitely starting on Sunday against Roma, right?
The away games in Rome and then Bologna will really show us what Milan’s made of, especially since Inter gets to play Pisa and Cremonese. If Milan slips up, they risk falling behind. That’s why these matches matter so much—they’ve got to keep pace and stay right in it.
And against Gasperini, it should feel like a Champions League clash. Roma’s attack is scarier now with Malen. Still, if Milan manages to win in Rome, it’ll be hard to pretend they’re not in the Scudetto race.
Roma and Bologna both face Milan after their European matches, while Inter, Napoli, and Juventus are busy too…
Not having to worry about Europe is a real bonus for Allegri. But Inter needs to drop points here and there; otherwise, catching them is a tall order. Chivu, though, has already got plenty in the bank.
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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