Allegri reveals Coppa Italia is target for Milan season; happy with under-fire forward Gimenez | OneFootball

Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri has said that “for us, Coppa Italia is the target of the season,” ahead of tomorrow evening’s match against Lecce at San Siro.

Speaking to MilanTV ahead of the cup tie, with quotes via MilanNews.it, Allegri confirmed that the cup is one of his major objectives for the season.

“We’ll start talking about the league again on Wednesday,” he continued, “tomorrow we have a game to win.”

The match is due to kick off at 20:00 BST on Tuesday, or 21:00 local time.

“It’s important for us,” Allegri said, “because we have to go forward and reach the round of 16. It won’t be simple and, on top of that, we only have 90 minutes to get it done.”

“Because,” he continued, “we mustn’t let it go to the lottery of penalties – because there anything can happen.”

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri looks on 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)

Milan coach Allegri talks Ricci and Gimenez

Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez has been under-fire since his arrival from Feyenoord last season. The striker has struggled to match the form he was so capable of in the Netherlands and is yet to score his first goal this season.

The former Feyenoord man was linked away from Milan in the summer but eventually decided to commit to the Rossoneri and fight for a place under new coach Allegri.

On Gimenez, Allegri said that “He’s put in good performances and he’s had chances to score. Right now, he hasn’t yet but maybe tomorrow he can.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between AC Milan and Feyenoord at San Siro Stadium on February 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Allegri also discussed summer signing Samuele Ricci, who has started to be integrated slowly into the squad and could start for the first time under the new coach in tomorrow’s game against Lecce.

“He’s doing really well,” the coach said, “I’m happy with him.”

However, Allegri did not stop there.

“I’m happy with the others as well,” he said, “the important thing is to work hard and talk little.

“We’re only at the start of the season,” Allegri admitted, “we haven’t done anything yet. Building takes a lot of time and destroying takes very little.”

The coach also called on Rossoneri fans to give his side the extra push they need to have a competitive season: “We need everyone. They’ll have to accompany us through this long season. We and the players will have to be good at delivering results because that’s what matters in football.”