On the eve of Sunday night’s showdown between Roma and Milan at the Olimpico, Massimiliano Allegri made it clear that he expects a high-level battle in the race for Champions League qualification. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Milan coach underlined both the importance of the moment and his respect for Roma’s recent work under Gian Piero Gasperini.
“The visit from the ownership was appreciated by everyone,” Allegri said. “It’s an important phase of the season, because we are playing for our objective, which is qualification for the Champions League. Now we just have to think about the pitch.”
Allegri confirmed that several attacking options will be available, while urging caution with players returning from injury. “Saelemaekers was much better yesterday,” he explained. “Today I’ll decide whether he can start.” He also added that “Giménez is progressing well and will be a valuable resource in the final part of the season,” while confirming that “Leão is available, as is Füllkrug.”
Turning his focus to Roma, Allegri dismissed any suggestion that the Giallorossi’s rise has been unexpected. “Gasperini is doing an excellent job,” he said. “Roma reflect their coach: they are very good offensively and also very solid defensively. Roma are not a surprise — I knew that with Gasperini we would find them up there.”
Allegri also highlighted how Roma have evolved since the first meeting earlier in the season. “In terms of aggression, they are the same team,” he noted, “but in terms of players they are different now. They have Malen, and that changes things defensively for us.” Special praise was reserved for Paulo Dybala: “He is extraordinary. He has rare technical quality and great football intelligence. The pass he made for Pisilli in Europe is something very few players are capable of.”
On Milan’s attacking rotation, Allegri stressed that efficiency matters more than minutes. “We have four players for two attacking positions,” he said. “The last 30 minutes are always decisive.” Regarding Leão’s condition, he added: “He is playing with a minor inflammation in the pubic area. It’s not serious, but it’s annoying. What matters is not how much he plays, but that he is effective and decisive.”
When asked about the January transfer window, Allegri remained pragmatic. “I am very happy with the squad,” he stated. “Either we improve the team, or we stay as we are.” He reiterated his belief that January is rarely transformative, explaining: “It’s very difficult to find players in January who truly make you stronger.” He did, however, single out one move: “Tare did very well to bring in Füllkrug immediately — if he had arrived a week later, we would have lost two matches.”
Allegri then widened the lens to Italian football as a whole, linking sporting ambition to financial reality. “For a club like Milan, qualifying for the Champions League is too important,” he said. “The financial gap with clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern is enormous. Champions League money is essential.”
Finally, Allegri addressed the broader pressure of the top-four race. “We are four teams fighting for three places, because I already count Inter in the top four,” he remarked. “To get there, you have to work very hard — very hard.” His closing message was clear and uncompromising: “We need to keep our feet on the ground and stay quiet.”
