Allegri: I hope Leo can play in Napoli, Milan wins should be the normal loss is the exception

At 2:45 am on September 21, in the 4th round of the 2025-26 Serie A season, AC Milan will be in the lead and will challenge Udinese away. Before the game, Milan coach Allegri attended the press conference and talked about some of the current situation of the team.

What efforts have you made to maintain stable results?

-I just know that we have just won two games and are about to face a very difficult game, and the opponent is a team with excellent physical fitness and excellent players. Tomorrow will be a very important test: the players all know this, and we have discussed this issue. We need to remain stable. Tomorrow is an opportunity for us because we know that the opponent is a team that is difficult to beat.

Regarding Leo and Menion

- Leo recovers well and we hope he can play in Naples. Menion is in good shape and he is calm and will appear in front of the goal against Lecce on Tuesday.

Has Milan recovered?

—The competition will tell us everything. Now the team has won only two games, which doesn't mean we're all doing well: we're still flawed. Tomorrow, it is important that we should do our best, otherwise we will encounter problems. There are four key games in a season: tomorrow we will face one of the top four. We have to treat this game with a high sense of responsibility, which requires stability and technology. The goal rate is very low and we need to improve that.

Cick, Modric and Rabiot can play together?

- This is not a matter of balance, it depends on the timing, you can play differently. Fofaner is a great player and he is important, but he needs to score more goals. We are working with everyone to move towards this goal. We need to forget the previous wins and focus on what we have to do, tomorrow's game, and then Lecce, Naples and Juventus, which are the most important.

About the team's goal distribution

-The forward should undertake a certain number of goals tasks, and the midfielder and the defender can also help. We have some really great forwards who are capable of scoring goals. Midfielders can also contribute to the offense if they pass and plug in.

You were suspended tomorrow for a controversial penalty. Do you think this is fair?

- I don't know what else the referee and VAR need to improve. VAR does improve football and reduce errors, but it is still subjective. Therefore, the error persists and continues to happen. One issue I mentioned is that when an offside situation occurs, if this leads to a corner, this is where it can be improved. Then there's they need to improve, and it's hard for me to do what in this case (laughs). If I get angry, it's my fault.

About S-Jimenez

-I forgot to mention Jimenez before, and now I want to say that he is in good shape, he can always score goals, he will do it.

About Leo and Pulisic

- Leo certainly won't play against Lecce, we hope he can play against Napoli. Pulisic is much better, he performed well on the bench and it is really great, and I will decide tomorrow if he starts or substitutes. As happened last Sunday, the substitutes have made a very important contribution to the team.

Shouldn't we be too optimistic?

—The locker room is very responsible and serious. We've talked about it, we know how important tomorrow is, and we'll play with the right mindset.

About Rich

- Since joining the team, there have been continuous progress in physical, technical and psychological aspects. He performed well in the preseason, was always well prepared, and was a trusted player, especially on a psychological level.

Are you satisfied with the defensive end?

- We have 19 players and 10 are new, so the more they know each other over time, the better we will do. In the match against Bologna, we sometimes make the wrong choices when passing the ball. But over time, we will improve this and get to know each other better.

Louis Enrique will watch the game in the stands, and if you are suspended, are you considering doing this?

- I'll try it tomorrow, I don't know. Louis Enrique loves watching games in the stands, and I don't know if I can do it: let's look forward to the best results.

Who will be the captain tomorrow?

——Gabia.

When seeing the small details of the team, do you feel that this is a champion team?

- There is a detail: the way to celebrate when the team scores... Whether it is against Lecce or Bologna, we can feel that we are becoming a united and purposeful team.

Do you feel that the team atmosphere has finally become united?

- We need to unite for the players, and they are the key to our winning game. I will try my best to help them and minimize the harm to them. We need to keep a low profile: in AC Milan, winning should be the norm. Winning two games should be the norm, not the exception, losing one game is the exception, and this kind of ups and downs cannot occur. We need to have strong spiritual strength and understand that we still have 35 games to play. We need to move towards our goals step by step, and there are still many points to strive for, and we must do it.

Among the champion players you have coached, who can Modric rank?

—I am also very lucky, I have coached many teams. Modric is the Golden Globe winner, so there is no need to say much. Watching him play football is a pleasure, he is a person who is very willing to contribute to the team.

About Salmakols

-Salmakols is an important player with the potential to become stronger. He maintained a good psychological balance throughout the game against Bologna.

has changed from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3?

- You put a little embarrassed by these numbers, Salmacoles, Esturpinian and Tomori were all yellow cards, but they performed very well. I think this is a more important advancement than any tactical aspect.

Can Pulisic play a role in the game?

- Pulisic just returned from the national team and is in great shape. He can play at any time. He is an important player.

Can this team lose less goals?

- We will see results, and every day we work hard to improve our individual abilities and incorporate those abilities into the overall performance of the team.

How did you improve the quality of the team's defense?

—The season just started, and we must be down-to-earth. This is an environment full of variables, so I try to avoid trouble. The normal situation in Milan is to win, and losing should be an exception. We need 85 points to reach the top, and it is very important to see the team's spirit. Again: Tomorrow's game is one of the four most important games in the league.