What Changed For Milan This Season As They Take The Lead In The Title Race

Written By Onyeka Daniel

Over the weekend, Italian giants, AC Milan rose to the top of the league after seven round of matches played after they defeated Fiorentina at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on the return of their former manager, Stefano Pioli to the San Siro one year after leaving the club.

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Despite their opening day defeat against Cremonese. Milan claimed a 2-1 victory to climb to the top of the Serie A table, where they stand alone on 16 points, one clear of Inter, Napoli and Roma going into the next round of matches.

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For legendary former Milan defender, Alessandro Costacurta, he has explained how Massimiliano Allegri has turned things around for a club that failed to qualify for Europe this season from last season’s results, leading the team to the top of the table despite not being among the favorites.

The Rossoneri had endured a disappointing 2024-25 season as which saw them finish in eighth place plus a change of coach and many feel that Milan being involved in just Serie A and Coppa Italia fixtures for the 2025-26 season is a massive advantage.

This was the case for Antonio Conte and his Scudetto-winning Napoli side last season, but Costacurta believes that there is more behind the recent Rossoneri turnaround under the former Juventus coach who took over from Sérgio Conceiçao after the end of last season.

Speaking in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Costacurta was asked if Milan’s recent record in Serie A has come as a surprise. He replied: “Not really, from the start I said that they could compete for the title: Without any cup competitions, they can only focus on the league.”

“One thing that amazes me, though, is that I didn’t imagine this team would become so mature so quickly. That’s the thing that strikes me the most, their focus. After the defeat in the opening game against Cremonese, Allegri spoke of a poor perception of danger.”

“I completely agreed and I would also say that this has happened a lot to Milan in recent years. There was a succession of errors in the details. Max has explained the problem and corrected it. Of course, the arrival of players in depth also helps. There is more protection of the defence, who are now growing and feel more trusted.”

“There is more attention to detail. Fewer crosses are coming in and fewer balls make it into the box, there is much less danger.” He continued. While Costacurta believes that Milan are in a position to fight for the title, he believes that there are still two teams ‘stronger’ than the Rossoneri in 2025-26.

“Inter and Napoli are stronger, but they also have European football, and an obligation to win,” he explained. “Max’s game might not excite me, but he has changed things. The team today tries to force their opponents into mistakes, they’re no longer waiting for them to happen.”

“For me, that’s a huge difference. They also get lots of players into the opponents’ areas, they’re pressing with more organisation, they’re creating the conditions to force the opposition into mistakes and to take advantage of them.” He continued in his assessment of the team.

Costacurta was asked if the additions of Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot over the summer has helped Milan in defence as well as in midfield and attack. “Without making comparisons, the defence of our ‘great’ Milan side was helped by the rest of the team.”

“I repeat, there is no comparison, but I will say that the group today is working well together, they’re supporting each other more. If you intercept the ball in midfield, it doesn’t get to your box and it’s obvious that players like Modric and Rabiot with their reading of the game, their interceptions and their experience have been decisive.”

If there is one player that could play in Costacurta’s ‘great’ Milan side, it is Modric. “For too many years, Milan didn’t have a leader with this charisma. He’s been teaching football for 20 years. He’s not a surprise either. From Boban to Ancelotti, everyone’s told me that in addition to being a great player, he’s also a great person.”

“Coming into a group that needed a relaunch and which lacked personality has been strangely positive. Players like Luka and Rabiot thrive in it, they enjoy explaining football to others. It happened to me too, there was a phase in my career where I also felt like a teacher, and they were moments that I really enjoyed.”

“Technically, the team has everything needed to win, but lacked leadership. Not anymore and let’s not forget about Allegri, either, he’s been decisive in changing everything.” He concluded. Up next for the team is another home game against Pisa as they look to remain at the top.

Meanwhile, Referee Livio Marinelli and VAR Risario Abisso will not face any punishment or suspension following their controversial penalty call during Milan’s 2-1 victory over Fiorentina. The Rossoneri had fallen behind to a Robin Gosens goal 10 minutes into the second half.

Then, they found an equaliser through a Rafael Leao stunner and the Portugal international then found the winner from the penalty spot five minutes from time but the away side were left furious by the decision to award the penalty for the goal by the referee.

Santiago Gimenez had gone down in the area holding his face after a light touch on the shoulder from Fabiano Parisi and Marinelli did not initially blow for a penalty, but later overturned his decision after seeing the incident again upon the recommendation from VAR Abisso.

Despite facing immediate criticism from fans, pundits and the press, the officials involved in the penalty call will not face any punishment according to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport even if it has now been revealed that the referee’s initial decision was correct.

Read Also: When And Where To Expect The New San Siro Stadium That Was Just Approved

Marinelli, referee on the night, and Abisso, on VAR duty, will not be taken off Serie A duty for the next round of fixtures according to the report but they will definitely be facing lots of of scrutiny in their next assignment when next they take to the field in the Serie A.

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