AC Milan’s Max Allegri ‘Problem’: Tactical Flaws And No Plan B Risk Champions League Bid

Massimiliano Allegri has come under criticism at AC Milan for having no backup plan.

Massimiliano Allegri Criticised For Tactical Blunders

Milan drew 1-1 with Fiorentina after delivering an uninspiring performance at the weekend, leaving them three points adrift of Inter at the top of the Serie A table.

Christopher Nkunku, often criticised since arriving for €42million last summer, spared the Rossoneri’s blushes after scoring a 90th-minute equaliser to cancel out Pietro Comuzzo’s second-half header.

With as many as four clubs seemingly in the Scudetto race, Milan losing ground on their fierce rivals for the second time in as many weeks could not have come at a worse time. As a result, even a top-four finish is not guaranteed.

Unsurprisingly, this has turned the spotlight on Allegri.

Writing for Calciomercato, sports journalist Andrea Longoni placed at least some of the blame for Milan’s stuttering displays on the head coach, despite his impressive work at the helm to date.

In his latest Milan Hello column, he pointed to Allegri’s failure to use an effective Plan B and poor player rotation. Longoni also believes that there are clear gaps across the team when out of possession.

“From this last point of view, Milan doesn’t look like an Allegri team today, given what they’re giving their opponents,” he said. “Remember, against Fiorentina and Genoa they almost lost at the last minute.

“In Florence, the coach is to blame for a lot of things.

“Too much rotation, with six substitutes on the pitch at once, in an always tricky away game.”

🗣️ Allegri talks Fiorentina-Milan pic.twitter.com/v0orgfV3C5

— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 11, 2026

Milan Made To Pay For Poor Rotation

Allegri rang the changes in Florence, handing a first start to Niclas Fullkrug and refreshing his midfield.

Luka Modric was named on the bench, with Samuele Ricci, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ardon Jashari given the nod instead. This, Longoni believes, was an unnecessary gamble ‘that didn’t pay off’.

Despite the squad’s fitness troubles, the reporter claimed that Milan should have rotated more against Genoa in their previous match and then largely kept to the usual spine against Fiorentina.

It was also damningly pointed out that they lost a total of 13 points and took just five from meetings with Pisa, Sassuolo, Parma, Cremonese, Genoa and Fiorentina – all clubs currently 11th or below.

Clearly, Milan’s record against the bottom half is proving to be their Achilles heel.

Allegri himself believes his players were guilty of making the same mistakes against Fiorentina as with Genoa.

“We had a good first half, and chances to score that we didn’t convert. Then after the break Fiorentina had more of the ball,” Allegri told DAZN Italia. “After going a goal down, we had patience to get the ball into the final third.

“But after equalising we made the same mistakes we did against Genoa.

“There were still seven minutes to go and with that much time you cannot lose the ball cheaply. You’ve got to play it better near the penalty area. The lads know this.”