ALLEGRI: "DESIRE TO IMPROVE"

It's back. After the first international break, Serie A is ready to kick off again. An important test is coming up for the Rossoneri against Bologna at San Siro. Looking ahead to Matchday 3, Massimiliano Allegri has spoken at Milanello in a press conference, with his comments broadcast on the AC Milan Official App and Milan TV. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO BOLOGNA
"In a way, today feels like the real start of the season, given the transfer window closed on September 1st. We're up against a team that's been competing at the top end of the table thanks to the excellent work done by Sartori and Italiano. Bologna play with speed, intensity, and a lot of technical quality – they've got players who can really hurt you. We'll need a big performance if we want to win and bounce back from the home defeat to Cremonese. It won't be easy."

INJURY UPDATE
"Leão has an issue with his soleus muscle – it's a tricky one – so he won't be available tomorrow and I don't think he'll make it for Udinese either. The plan is to have him back against Napoli. He and Jashari are our only injury absentees. Estupiñan is back, he's fine, and he's even shaken off the jet lag. Pulisic's hand isn't a problem either, so the rest of the squad are doing well."

INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS
"Nkunku is a bit behind because he had been training separately at Chelsea, but over the past two weeks he's worked well. He's available and has at least 25–30 minutes in him. He does the basics very well; now it's about getting into top condition. He's a quality player, and having quality players always makes the difference when you want to win games. Rabiot is in good shape physically, like the others. We'll assess him between today and tomorrow morning, just as we'll do with those coming back from international duty, especially the ones who've had long trips. We can also count on Balentien – he's got great energy and impressed when he came on at Lecce. Gimenez had a good international break and scored a fantastic goal, which I was happy to see. I believe he can have an excellent season. When you arrive in January, there's always an adjustment period, but he's settled well."

TRANSFER WINDOW
"The squad has the right balance to face the season. Three new signings came in and raised the level, just as the other recent arrivals have. I'm really happy with the group we've put together – it's a good mix of youth and experience, and the club did great work. The road back to the Champions League won't be easy. I can't help but smile when I hear people say that with one player you win and with another you lose. Football doesn't work like that – there are too many variables, and you have to be good at handling the unexpected. The only certainty is that we have to work hard, with passion, to put ourselves in the best position to win. The rest is just talk."

DE WINTER, ODOGU, ATHEKAME AND RICCI
"I'm very happy with Koni. Defending is not just about the defenders – it's about the whole team. Individually, our defenders are working hard and improving. Some have less experience, but everyone is eager to grow. Odogu is the latest arrival, and he's shown great sharpness and willingness to learn. Athekame is totally reliable – I'm sure that if I picked him against Bologna, he'd deliver a great performance. Ricci has come on a lot since joining us, even physically. He's a very intelligent player, tactically astute, and I'm really pleased with him."

ALLEGRI'S AC MILAN
"I really like how we're working right now. The whole squad is fully involved, eager to come in every day, train hard, and improve. The decisive stretch of the season is always between March and May – our goal is to be in top condition when that time comes. We've already switched things up once. At Lecce, we showed balance and patience. This squad has players who feel a strong sense of responsibility towards the shirt, the club, the fans, and themselves. As for whether we'll use three midfielders and three forwards, that depends on the situation, regarding the players available and their physical condition. The most important thing is that the team understands how to read the different phases of a match – that's the key."

THE ROAD AHEAD
"There's still a lot of work to do. At Lecce we exposed ourselves to moments we could have avoided. We need to improve our conversion rate in front of goal – scoring makes defending so much easier. Defensively, we're growing as a team, but there's still plenty to refine. Balance is crucial in everything, but especially in football. And of course, when you're the Coach of AC Milan, pressure is part of the job. We have to win matches. The key is that both myself and the players are working for the Club, not for ourselves. The players are the ones who win games; the coach takes responsibility for defeats. We all need to row in the same direction, with calmness and balance, for the good of AC Milan. That's clear to everyone, and we're all on the same page."

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