Cagliari-Milan, Allegri: “Nkunku out, let’s see how long Leao and Pulisic hold up”

Journalist

January 1, 2026 (changed at 5.46pm) – MILANO

Max Allegri makes the appeal (and after all, in the conference he is sitting on a platform, like the professors): “Gabbia is recovered, he will come on the bench. Nkunku is not available, the ankle problem persists. Leao is completely recovered, but he hasn’t played for a month and we’ll see how long he can stay on the pitch. Pulisic worked separately until yesterday, let’s see how he is tomorrow. Pavlovic had a feverish attack, we’ll see. Fullkrug will come on the bench”. Milan fans understand that there is more bad news than good news. The big question is who will play in attack and Leao, who has an inflammation bordering on pubalgia, will 90% be asked to start from the first minute. With Loftus or Pulisic, we’ll see. “It can start from the first minute,” confirms Allegri. As for the defense, two options: “I tried both Odogu and Bartesaghi in training. If Pavlovic isn’t there, someone else will play.” So Odogu starts with De Winter and Tomori or Bartesaghi arm in arm with Estupinan in midfield. We are in an emergency.

fourth place or championship

—

Cheerful, and yet, he manages to smile. He seems to be in a better mood than usual, he lightens up. In fact, he even talks about the Scudetto without naming it. When they ask him if he would be really happy with a fourth place at the end of the season, Max says: “The important thing is to get to June and do your best, being in the top four in Italy is not easy. I’m not saying that I would be happy with fourth place, but returning to the Champions League would be an important result. This doesn’t preclude the ambition of reaching the maximum goal.” The favorite? The usual two. “Napoli won and Inter in recent years have always come first or second. Who is right in the argument between Marotta and Conte? I’m not on either side. I say I’m the favorite and the counter-favourite.”

the Cagliari match

—

The match, of course, deserves attention. Allegri plays the wildcard, as he did before Udinese-Milan, defined as one of the most important matches of the year. This time too – it went very well then… – he calls the team back from a distance. “This match will be complicated, more than the others because it is the first of the year – says Max -. Udine is as important as that, the ranking is taking shape and we need to take a step forward to stay in the top four. We will need everyone.”

controversies: calendar and market

—

Controversy? Well, Allegri just sends a message with some venom when they ask him about the January transfer window, which is too long for many: “Whoever has to decide to change things doesn’t do it, so why talk about it? – asks Max -. Things are done, not said. We have moved forward with Fullkrug and I’m satisfied.” And in the end, with elegance, no controversy even on the calendar, with Milan having to play on January 2nd – the only big one -, they will have six away games in the next eight and will play two matches in three days, the 8th and the 11th: “Football is wonderful because if you win it’s nice to play on Friday, if you don’t win it’s nice to play on Sunday. For me it’s an advantage to play tomorrow. If we had played the 3rd, some players on the 1st could have had an evening…”. Here he came out with class.