We are now just one week away from the AC Milan squad reporting for preseason, and the camp has already been mapped out by Massimiliano Allegri.
There is no doubting that the 2024-25 season was a low point in recent Milan history, but it did at least show what not to do. The Rossoneri have gone for ‘safe pairs of hands’ with Igli Tare and Allegri, who have decades of combined experience in Serie A.
We have written at length before about how Allegri is putting more into this particular job than he has the first weeks of any other role he has had, and Tare’s comments in a recent press conference suggest that is true.
Having had a bit of runway to work with, the incoming manager has already mapped out how July will look and he aims to go for the ‘boot camp’ approach. What exactly can the players expect during the retreat? It certainly won’t be a gradual easing-in, that’s for sure.
Double sessions
The coach has already been very active for several weeks having assembled his staff, held strategy meetings with the management and even taking up office at Casa Milan, to be as involved as possible.
Allegri decided to bring forward the ‘raduno’ which is the start of the preseason training camp. On July 4-5 the first fitness tests will take place at Milanello for the players, then by the evening of July 6 almost everyone should be at the complex.
On July 7 the actual training camp starts with a session in the morning, closed to the public. Then there will be another in the evening, which brings us to the first important point regarding Max’s plans to get Milan at their… max.
The former Juventus coach will use an average of two sessions per day to try and get the players fighting fit as quickly as possible. It will be punishing and tiring given the temperatures that will be reached.
Allegri will take the great heat into account – such as by holding morning and evening training – but he does not intend to make too many concessions. In his eyes, team must get used to sweating and suffering, to help their mental resilience as much as physical.
There will be maximum attention paid to schedules and weight, while the dressing room rules must be strictly respected. The players have received a work program for the holidays because Allegri and his staff expect them to show up not in perfect physical form, but still in good shape.
Having two training sessions per day during a preseason camp is not a novelty: Paulo Fonseca briefly did the same last season. That said, the important thing is having all but two players available to utilise them which was not the case last summer due to various international commitments.
Creating togetherness
One thing that felt like it was lacking at times in 2024-25 was a team spirit. While it often sounds cliché, having a squad that would run through walls for each other helps them to perfect above the sum of their parts, as seen under Stefano Pioli.
Allegri knows this well given some of his great Juventus sides (and the Milan of 2010-11) were created around the principle of professionalism but also a positive attitude. Thus, he will begin work trying to recreate the community vibe.
On Sunday 6 July everyone will sleep at Milanello because on the morning of Monday 7th it will be the first proper training session, as mentioned above. The training complex is a stone’s throw from home for many players, but Allegri knows that a real group is built before a ball is kicked.
As a disclaimer there are no obligations – whoever wants to return to their family will be free to do so – but Allegri would like the players to stay at the Carnago-based complex so they are fully immersed in the program.
Speaking of which, the staff have set a mandatory breakfast at Milanello each morning, with the first training taking place at the ‘cooler’ time of 09:30 CEST. There will be a mandatory team dinner after the evening training too.
Allegri knows the training ground well from his first spell and he will try set the example to his players. The Italian will sleep in the famous room number five, remaining fully dedicated to the task at hand.
Moreover, Max has spoken on the phone with most if not all of his players, to check in on how their summer is going and – in some cases – explaining his plans for the team and each role. Allegri himself had a vacation to Sardinia earlier in the month, to recharge before things get fully going.
A competitive advantage
The coach wishes to utilise every bit of leverage that Milan have, starting with the Rossoneri’s two biggest rivals (Inter and Juventus) being engaged at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Even when both teams have concluded their journey in the tournament the players will be granted a holiday, so it is probable that the Milan squad will be weeks ahead of them in terms of their preseason program.
Then there is the classic ‘calcio carousel’ that has taken place. Milan have chosen new leadership on the sporting side, but only Napoli and Juve out of the teams that finished higher last season will have the same coach, and even that wasn’t expected for the Bianconeri.
There will be almost two ‘full’ weeks of work at Milanello to try make use of the time available. It is predicted that during this period at least one friendly against a ‘weaker’ opponent will be scheduled because the first game will not be the one in Singapore against Arsenal on the 23rd.
It does not matter too much if the new signings arrive laterincluding Luka Modric, who will take a bit of vacation after the Club World Cup with Real Madrid. The former Juventus coach will provide the athletic and playing base from day one and whoever arrives later will catch up.
Not having the European competitions will make the preparation for the league games easier, but Max certainly will not be soft in the Autumn and Winter sessions, while the other big teams will be busy traveling around the continent.
Having all these days available will be necessary for Allegri to work on the tactical aspect too. The fundamentals will be as follows: a 4-3-3 formation, a completely renewed midfield, a greater emphasis on the regista role, control over the tempo of games and being compact out of possession.
The pitch, as always, will bear the fruits of the labour and determine how useful it was. The first competitive test will be earlier than usual this year with Bari travelling to San Siro in the Coppa Italia, before the Serie A opener the following weekend at the same stadium versus Cremonese.
