Allegri jokes on Rabiot reunion and outlines AC Milan ideas | OneFootball

Max Allegri jokes about his reunion with Adrien Rabiot at AC Milan and explains his choices against Bologna. ‘I thought this was the best way to start the match.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

It was a dismal start to the campaign for the Rossoneri, who lost at home to Cremonese, then grabbed victory away to Lecce, so they’re hoping to be more convincing this evening.

This is also a repeat of last season’s Coppa Italia Final, which was won by Bologna in May.

Allegri still trying to find his Milan

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri gestures during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Cremonese at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“The first step forward we need is to win at home, which is the most important thing,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.

“I thought the performance against Cremonese wasn’t bad, we had two distractions on crosses and paid for them. Bologna are a different type of team, they have pace and technique, so we need to defend as a unit and make the most of the attacking qualities of our individual forwards.”

Santiago Gimenez is the only genuine striker at the disposal of Allegri, especially with Rafael Leao out injured, although his situation had been up in the air on deadline day.

“He had two goals disallowed and created chances, we all hope he can score tonight, as he is a good player and we are all happy to have him.”

PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 23: Adrian Rabiot of France looks on before the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Croatia and France at Stade de France on March 23, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Christian Pulisic is dropped to the bench, partly because he just returned from international duty with the USMNT, so Ruben Loftus-Cheek is moved into a more advanced role supporting Gimenez.

“Quite simply, I thought this was the best way to start because on the bench Christopher Nkunku has 25-30 minutes in his legs, Pulisic returned from international duty and can be effective off the bench after scoring in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.”

The big news tonight is the debut of Rabiot, who was a deadline day signing from Olympique Marseille and reunites with his former Juventus coach Allegri.

There was video of them meeting in the locker room, the tactician greeting the Frenchman by jokingly calling him ‘vagabond.’

“He is a bit of a vagabond… The club did a good job on the transfer market and raised the quality level of the squad. Now we want to bring home the points against a strong Bologna team that is now a regular in the top spots of Italian football,” concluded Allegri.