Allegri: From a lineup perspective, Inter Milan and Napoli are the favorites to win the championship

At 3:45 a.m. on November 3, in the 10th round of the 2025-26 Serie A season, AC Milan will face Roma at home. Before the game, Milan coach Allegri attended the press conference. He talked about some of the team's current situation.

Is this the last game under difficult circumstances?

——We lost some players because of the national team competition. This kind of thing happens from time to time. We have to work hard to recover because it's always almost the same players playing. There is an exciting game to be played tomorrow against a team that performs very well and Gasperini's imprint is very obvious. Roma has won the most away games in 2025 and has kept the most clean sheets since the start of the season. And we have conceded goals in the last four games: we have to reverse that trend tomorrow.

About the team's injury situation

-Leo is in good condition. Tomori's situation is more complicated. Although there is no problem with his knee, he has a lot of fluid in his leg. We will take another look today. Pulisic may return before the game against Parma, but Rabiot's situation is very difficult to say. Jimenez has ankle issues and will travel with the team if he returns to fitness. Estupinian has recovered and Yashari is unlikely to be on the bench.

What is the situation with Nkunku?

——Nkunku is in better condition and he may play tomorrow. We have high hopes for him.

Does Rome deserve to be at the top of the list?

- Yes, they only conceded four goals and always looked like they could score. As for whether they can stay ahead, I don't know, but I know we have to keep getting good results.

Can Nkunku play as a forward?

- I think he can, just like Leo. We can also do without a center.

About Dybala

- We haven't fully tapped into his technical potential yet. He came to Turin at the age of 21 and has made great progress. He scores goals efficiently, knows how to kick the ball and rarely misses a shot. He and Sule are both improving, as are Cristante and Pellegrini, and it's no coincidence that they are at the top of the list.

Will there be sparks in the partnership between Leo and Nkunku?

- They've never played together before, so I'm also interested to see how they perform.

About Modric

- Modric is in good form. In Bergamo, we made a lot of technical mistakes in the first half and were constantly chasing our opponents. I said there were four minutes in Bergamo when the ball seemed to turn into a bomb. We have to do better technically.

Will Pulisic and Rabiot go to the national team?

——First we have to see if they can come back. Pulisic should be available against Parma and then we'll see if he goes to the national team. We work with national team coaches who understand the players' physical condition and timing. We need healthy players and we are in contact with all the national team coaches and will inform them about the physical condition of the players.

About the matchup with Gasperini

– It’s always difficult to play against Gasperini, they will spread the width of the field and keep you very busy. In the past few years, I've often played against Juric first and then Gasperini so that I didn't have to change my preparation plan.

Who will be on the bench tomorrow?

- I will observe today and make a decision tomorrow morning. Tomorrow Castillo, Siya and Sala of Milan Future Team will travel with the team.

What are the differences in Milan’s performance in recent games?

- When we play Rabiot, we play one way and when we play other players, we shouldn't continue to play the same way. Fofana is growing rapidly and has the potential to be a key player.

Spalletti believes that Juventus is one of the Serie A title contenders, but what about Milan?

——I can only send them my sincerest blessings. From a lineup perspective, Inter Milan and Napoli are the favorites to win, but there are still a group of teams competing for the top four, including Juventus, Milan, Roma, Atalanta, and Lazio... Bologna and Como are also among them. We must always keep in mind the main goal, which is to get back into the Champions League, which requires hard work and sweat.

We should not be frustrated because of two draws, but should maintain balance and continuity, because only winning can improve the ranking. Tomorrow's race will be another step forward for us to be in the best shape to compete for the top four come March. The first few months of the season are crucial in laying the foundation for the entire season, don’t overthink it, just do it.

Does a draw also have value?

- A draw is important because it ensures continuity of results. Milan have always lost in Bergamo over the past two years and this year we have improved our level. While sometimes it's not possible to win all the time, it's important to maintain consistency in your results.

About Leo's progress

- It is not easy to enter Leo's heart. After a stellar first month, he was stopped by injury. Now he is growing, and although he has not yet reached 100%, the important thing is that he has returned to the team with a certain attitude.

Is there anything we don’t know about Modric?

——His humility and willingness to contribute to the team impressed me deeply. He does a great job in the defensive midfield position: he is so smart and always understands everything in advance.

Is tomorrow's game a crucial battle?

- No, absolutely not.

What is the situation with Bart Saki?

- He is not in the starting lineup, but is in Milan's lineup. He needs to improve his attack in the last 30 meters because his skills with his feet are very good. "

What about Loftus-Cheek?

- He could be seen as a midfielder or a striker, I need to evaluate that today. I have three options: Leao, Nkunku, Loftus-Cheek and maybe Salle Marcos.