INTERNATIONAL BREAK: TOGETHER TOWARDS THE FINAL STRETCH | OneFootball

The final international break comes with eight matches remaining until the finish line. We head into it sitting second in the table, six points behind Inter and nine clear of fifth place, currently shared by Juventus and Roma. "We need to lay the foundations to achieve our objectives by the end of the season: the first goal is to get back in the Champions League. In March, we need to be in the top four," said Massimiliano Allegri during his first press conference. And at the end of March, AC Milan are right up there - in the mix, among the top spots, exactly where the coach had hoped to be at the start of the season.

March ended with a 3-2 home win over Torino, bringing a total of three victories and one defeat - the only setback being the trip to the Olimpico against Lazio. Earlier in the month, there had been the high of the derby, won for the second time this season thanks to Pervis Estupiñan's first Rossoneri goal, and the victory in Cremona. Overall, it was a more positive month than February, because it allowed the Rossoneri to close in on the leaders while keeping their distance from the chasing pack in the Champions League race. Between February and March, AC Milan suffered league defeats against Parma and Lazio but, on both occasions, managed to bounce back in the following match: first against Inter, then against Torino.

This group continues to display its unity and mental strength. The team have been navigating the season with a defined objective, maintaining the right momentum and always demonstrating the ability to get back on track in the most challenging moments. "Until March, we need to build for the final months," said Massimiliano Allegri back in July, on the first day of pre-season. Over these months, Allegri and his staff have done exactly that, working intensively on the technical aspects - with defensive solidity being particularly evident - but above all on the mental dimension, focusing on patience, perseverance, and self-awareness.

At the end of March, this is a team that is entering the final stretch close to achieving its primary goal - qualification for next season's Champions League - while still nurturing the hope of a brave late charge. Having welcomed Santiago Gimenez back in the last match at San Siro, the Rossoneri will soon be boosted by the returns of Matteo Gabbia and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With clear minds and plenty of determination, our journey resumes in Naples on Easter Monday, 6 April at 20:45 CET, in a big showdown that will say a lot about our ambitions for the rest of the season.

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