Allegri sets sights on Milan return to Champions League; ‘no comment’ on Boniface | OneFootball

Milan kick off their 2025-26 Serie A campaign tomorrow when they host newly promoted Cremonese at San Siro.

Speaking ahead of the game at his first proper league press conference since his return to the Rossoneri, head coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed his main target for the season, praised the club’s transfer window and dropped a hint about the rumoured arrival of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.

Speaking to the press, via IlMilanista, Allegri opened the conference by saying “Tomorrow we start the season with an important match. I’m very curious, also because I’m returning to the touchline after a year away. It was wonderful to see so many people in the Coppa Italia and tomorrow there will be 75,000 fans as well. We’ll need to work well and try to get to at least March in the best possible condition. I’m very happy with the players – this is a group that is becoming a real team.”

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)

Allegri: ‘Milan must return to Champions League’

Milan finished eighth in Serie A last season meaning they are notably absent from European competitions this year. Allegri has already set goals for the Rossoneri to return to continental football, “I always say that in the league you have to move forward like you’re on a cruise. You can’t go too fast but you must stay steady. Next year, we all know Milan must return to the Champions League without setting limits for ourselves and we can only achieve that by focusing on desire, hard work and attention to detail in training.”

Allegri also spoke on the importance of respecting every opponent, as Milan prepare to host Davide Nicola’s newly promoted Cremonese, “We have to be a team that shows great respect for everyone because matches are won on the pitch. Just because we are Milan, it does not mean we start 2-0 up. To get results, you have to be humble and intelligent. Every game will be difficult, and we must have great respect for every opponent.”

Cremonese return to Serie A after spending two seasons back down in the second division.

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)

Allegri: ‘No comment’ on Boniface; ‘eight teams in the mix for Scudetto’

When asked about the favourites for the Scudetto, Allegri responded “As I’ve said, there are at least eight teams in the mix but usually the favourite is the one who won the title the previous season. We’ll need to do very good work while maintaining balance.”

Allegri then expanded upon his concept of balance, “It is not a question of playing style but of the characteristics of the players we have on the pitch. The key is to keep balance and order and then I will make decisions based on the qualities and attributes of my players. If you have Tomori playing as a full-back on the right, it is not the same as having someone who pushes forward. The same applies to midfield and attack.”

The Italian coach also took time to praise the work his club has done off-the-pitch this summer, with new sporting director Igli Tare helping to underline a fresh recruitment strategy, focused largely on signing players who can play a big part in the club’s future. “The club has done a good job on the market,” Allegri said, “both with departures and arrivals. Young players have come in, with potential and quality. Every day I share objectives with the club, which is attentive and alert. For now, the important thing is tomorrow’s match and I am happy with all the players I have available.”

Milan are being strongly linked with Nigerian forward Victor Boniface in the closing stages of the transfer window and Allegri was asked to comment on the Bayer Leverkusen striker, to which he replied “At the moment he is not a Milan player, so out of respect for the other club I won’t comment. As for the fans, we have to be good at drawing them in not only through technical performances but also by being a team. And I am convinced that when we do that, they will be right there to help us.”

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – JULY 07: Victor Boniface attends a training session of Bayer 04 Leverkusen after resume of summer break at Training Ground on July 07, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

Allegri talks team choices for Milan ahead of Cremonese clash

When asked about his squad, Allegri said “I am happy with the players I have available. We’ve got Tomori and De Winter who can play centrally and also as full-backs but then there are others like Gimenez and Athekame who bring different qualities. Leagues, nine times out of ten, are decided by those who come off the bench. In the last 30 minutes, games change completely and so many results are determined.”

Allegri has been trying different combinations in attack over pre-season, with the coach opting to utilise Rafael Leao centrally for the time being – whilst the club continue to search for a new attacker and coped with the extended holiday for Gimenez. On his front three, the Italian said “We’ve already used it! Rafa has played up front and you could see it also with Saelemaekers and Pulisic – so we have already tried that. Then it depends: some start higher, some a bit deeper, depending on the player’s qualities on the pitch. We’ve also had Santi Gimenez play, and we’ve got Chukwueze too.”

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Luka Modric of AC Milan is put under pressure by Cole Palmer of Chelsea during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on August 10, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“Today I will decide whether Luka Modric starts or comes off the bench. Loftus-Cheek and Fofana are players who combine both physicality and technique – they will need to score at least 15 goals between them. That is a target I have set and one I care about.”

Allegri concluded the conference with this, “We need to prove ourselves on the pitch, with facts. The team has great values. I always say: a good player can become even better, but a bad one stays bad – maybe he can improve a bit, become less bad, but that’s it. Here we have strong players but we will need to show it on the pitch for everyone to see. Building team chemistry will be fundamental. As for last season’s dynamics, I don’t want to judge – only those inside knew the reality. But a Coppa Italia final was reached and a Supercoppa was won. That shows there are values in place.”