"WE HAD IT!" — MAX ALLEGRI’S HONEST ADMISSION ON THE PENALTY THAT DERAILED AC MILAN
Max Allegri hails a "positive" point at Roma despite a late penalty denying AC Milan a win at the Stadio Olimpico.
Max Allegri looked back at Milan’s draw at the Stadio Olimpico and kept things pretty simple: they were on track to win until Roma got their penalty. “It’s a positive result,” he said, “but these things happen.”
For a while, it looked like a repeat of their last meeting at San Siro. Back then, Roma dominated but couldn’t get past Mike Maignan, and Milan stole a 1-0 win. This time, Koni De Winter finished off a Luka Modric corner to put Milan ahead, but Lorenzo Pellegrini converted his penalty—unlike Paulo Dybala in November, who got denied.
The numbers pretty much say it all. Roma had 15 shots to Milan’s 5 and a huge xG advantage—2.74 to 0.35. Things did even out a bit after halftime, though.
Allegri found reasons to be upbeat. “We started well for about seven or eight minutes, then Roma really pressed us. They were first to every loose ball and dangerous with those vertical passes,” he told DAZN Italia. “Maignan kept us in it with some great saves. In the second half, we improved technically, and Roma lost some of their intensity.”
When Milan took the lead, Allegri thought they had the game in hand. “But these things happen. We leave with a positive result. Getting a point at the Olimpico is important at this stage of the season. We gained a point on Napoli and kept Roma at arm’s length.”
Milan’s still sitting second, five points off leaders Inter, but they’ve now opened up a five-point gap over fifth-placed Juventus.
Allegri admitted, “Roma really pushed, and there’s always one team that presses harder. We were more aggressive after the break. Against a team pressing as they do, you need to play around them with longer combinations. We gave them a few chances by making mistakes playing out from the back—should’ve been sharper, instead of leaving Gabbia exposed one-on-one.”
“After we went ahead, we defended well. Then, just when everything seemed to be going our way, the penalty hit. Honestly, before that, it felt more likely we’d go 2-0 up than Roma would equalise.”
With this draw, Milan’s unbeaten run in Serie A stretches to 21 matches, ever since that opening weekend loss to Cremonese back in August 2025.
Late in the game, Allegri sent on Niclas Füllkrug and Christian Pulisic from the bench, while Rafael Leão tried to build some chemistry with Christopher Nkunku. “They’re all important players,” Allegri said. “When I made the changes, Leao and Nkunku were getting better, but I wanted someone strong in the air—Pulisic has that determination to finish things off.”
He shrugged. “You think you have it figured out, then football throws you something else.”
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.
_1777371632.webp)
