Allegri: ‘Milan show respect to Bari, objective is top four’ | OneFootball

Max Allegri warns Milan must ‘show respect’ to Coppa Italia opponents Bari and feels the club ‘worked well’ on the transfer market. ‘Our objective is the top four.’

It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 20.15 UK time and the winners will be decided after 90 minutes or in a penalty shoot-out, as there is no provision for extra time.

Whoever goes through will face Lecce in the next round of the competition.

“The Coppa Italia is one of the three targets that we want to achieve this season,” Allegri told Milan TV.

“That means tomorrow is an important match and one we need to earn on the field, we all know that. The season begins and we have to be ready, showing great respect for Bari and a great sense of responsibility.”

Allegri makes his return to Milan after 11 years, but he will not be on the bench, as he must still sit out a touchline ban from his previous Coppa Italia experience at Juventus.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm, so we thank all the fans who will be at the stadium tomorrow, but we must play with responsibility, organisation and technique. Above all, we must show respect to Bari, who are well-organised, with a good coach and a strong pre-season. What counts tomorrow is the victory, we must try to progress in the Coppa Italia to reach the Final in May.”

Allegri sets Milan targets

HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 26: AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri gestures during the Liverpool FC v AC Milan Pre-Season Friendly match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Milan are starting in the First Round because the did not finish in the top eight of Serie A last season, but it also means they won’t have the distractions of European football.

“I always say that in a league competition you don’t win or lose with one match, but need to maintain great balance. We mustn’t get too over-excited when things go well, nor too depressed when there are difficult moments. We must show respect and keep concentrated, especially in the matches against the small to medium teams, as those are the ones that really make the difference.”

While Milan made it to the Coppa Italia Final last season, they were defeated by Bologna, confirming their generally poor record in this tournament.

“Nobody pays much attention to the Coppa Italia at the start, but like all competitions, they start to become important once you get to the semi-finals. On top of everything else, you can qualify for the Supercoppa Italiana the next season,” noted Allegri.

“This is one of our three objectives, seeing as we are not in the Champions League this year.”

The new coach has experimented with a couple of different tactical systems since taking over from Sergio Conceicao, so which will he use in this first competitive match?

“I don’t really love the numbers in tactics, the important thing is that the team moves well when attacking and defending. I think we are working and must improve as a team, because the statistics showed we conceded a lot of goals in certain areas. Our objective is to finish the season in the top four.”

DUBLIN, IRELAND – AUGUST 09: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, reacts during the pre-season friendly match between Leeds United and AC Milan at Aviva Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Milan have certainly invested in the transfer market this summer, even with the sales of players like Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez.

“I think Igli Tare worked very well both in signings and sales. The important thing is that we keep this enthusiasm and desire, the belief in the capability of this squad. The newcomers have settled in well and have a good spirit. Naturally, once the season begins, the pressure starts to rise.

“This team has quality, but football is not an exact science and there are years when things just don’t go well, but it doesn’t mean a player loses his value. Last season, Milan won the Supercoppa and played the Coppa Italia Final, so it did do some good things.

“Now it is a new season and we must be concentrated on an objective that is clear in our sights.”