It wasn’t just the scorelines that captured attention — although a 4-2 dismantling of Liverpool and a 9-0 thrashing of Perth Glory certainly raised eyebrows. It was the manner in which AC Milan have begun to announce themselves once again on the European stage, or at least, whisper their intentions.
Max Allegri, in his second coming at the Rossoneri, has wasted no time reshaping a team that had begun to feel adrift. After several seasons of tactical ambiguity and psychological fragility, Milan’s 2025 pre-season suggests something rare in modern football: a fusion of discipline and fluidity, humility and hunger.
⚔️ Arsenal, Liverpool and a Statement of Intent
The tour began with a curious match against Arsenal in Singapore — a narrow 1-0 defeat turned moral victory after Milan triumphed in the post-match penalty shootout. If that felt like a footnote, the clash in Hong Kong against Liverpool was anything but.
A 4-2 win, driven by an explosive front line and a midfield now unshackled from robotic possession patterns, gave Milan fans something they hadn’t felt in a while: confidence. Rafael Leão danced down the flanks. Ruben Loftus-Cheek — long criticised for inconsistency — bulldozed through Liverpool’s press like a man reborn. And Noah Okafor, once on the fringes, announced himself with a dazzling brace.
Against Perth Glory, Milan simply had fun. A 9-0 demolition, despite being against modest opposition, confirmed Allegri’s intention: this squad must entertain, but never forget to kill.
🧠 Allegri’s Philosophy: Control First, Chaos Second
The defining trait of this Milan side, however, is not the scorelines — it is the structure. Under Allegri, the lines are tight, the midfield disciplined, and the transitions brutally efficient. He’s not reinventing the wheel. Rather, he’s oiling the gears.
Off the ball, Milan have become dogged. The high press of old has given way to a medium block, designed to absorb and suffocate, before launching lightning counters. It’s not glamorous football — but it is effective. And crucially, it suits the players.
Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze are no longer drifting shadows. In Allegri’s system, they are arrows — tasked with punishing spaces, not painting pictures. Even the often-maligned Musah now looks like a cog with purpose, rather than a misfit in search of meaning.
Okafor’s rise might be the biggest revelation. Once a peripheral figure, the Swiss forward is now in Allegri’s good graces — four goals in three games tells the story of a player finally trusted to deliver.
🔮 The Path Ahead: From Foundations to Fireworks?
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Pre-season is pre-season. No trophies are handed out in July.
But Allegri knows this. “The real work begins now,” he said after the Perth match, brushing off questions about title ambitions. “We build step by step. The season is 38 games, not three.”
Still, there is a quiet confidence around Milanello. The squad looks sharper. The system looks defined. And for the first time in years, Milan do not look like a club guessing their way forward.
What we are seeing is not a revolution — it is a return to fundamentals. Allegri has always believed in balance: between aggression and patience, between flair and order. Milan, once again, are becoming a team that doesn’t just hope to win — but knows how to win.
🧾 Verdict
If the pre-season is a mirror, then AC Milan’s reflection is clear: focused, structured, and suddenly dangerous again.
They may not be favourites for the Scudetto. They may not top their Champions League group. But they will not be pushovers. Not anymore.
With Allegri back at the helm and a squad beginning to believe again, one thing is certain: this Milan side is not here to admire the scenery. They’re here to leave a mark.
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