Massimiliano Allegri outlines goal to get Italian giants AC Milan back in Europe

SINGAPORE – With seven Champions League titles and 19 Serie A crowns, AC Milan stand among the most successful football clubs in the world.

But the Rossoneri’s dip in recent years has taken some of the shine off their legacy.

In the 2024-25 season, the Italian side were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage. They also finished eighth in Serie A, failing to qualify for Europe for the upcoming campaign.

So as Massimiliano Allegri returns to the San Siro after he was rehired as Milan’s coach in May to replace the sacked Sergio Conceicao, the Italian tactician has set an immediate target of returning to Europe.

The last time Milan missed out on European competition was in 2019-20, when they were banned from Uefa tournaments for a season after breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

“The goal for this season must be to enter the Champions League. AC Milan has to play in Europe,” said Allegri, 57, through a translator at a pre-match press conference on July 21 at the National Stadium, where they will face Arsenal in a friendly on July 23 as part of the Singapore Festival of Football.

“A brand like AC Milan and the club of this level has to play in Europe, and that remains the well-defined objective from the very get-go, and it’s important not only for the club on a sustainability basis but for Italian football as well.”

English defender Fikayo Tomori, who was also present, echoed his coach’s sentiments.

He added that the squad have been “learning new things and a new system” under Allegri as they gear up for their first competitive fixture of the season – a Coppa Italia first-round encounter against Serie B outfit Bari on Aug 17.

“As the mister (Allegri) said, I think Milan last season wasn’t what we wanted it to be. So this season has to be better. We’re already looking forward to starting the season,” said Tomori, 27, who joined Milan from Chelsea in a permanent deal in 2021.

“Qualifying for the Champions League is obviously somewhere that Milan has to be.”

Allegri, who led Milan to the Serie A title in 2011 during his first stint as their coach from 2010 to 2014, has enjoyed tremendous successes in two spells at Juventus.

The Italian won five league titles and five Coppa Italia trophies with the Bianconeri while also guiding them to two Champions League finals.

Reflecting on Milan’s upcoming campaign without European competition, Allegri said he preferred to look at the situation as half full.

“Like everything in life, everything has two sides, the positive and the negative. The positive side is obviously that by playing once a week, you have more time to work as a team,” he said.

“On the negative side, we won’t be playing the big games everyone would like to play and these are the games that the team live for.”

While the team work collectively towards a return to their heyday, the coming campaign will also be an important one for players looking to impress their national selectors for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Tomori is desperate for his first taste of the showpiece competition after he was left out of England’s Qatar 2022 squad by Gareth Southgate.

He said: “Every season is important but of course, but I think when it’s a World Cup season, then things are a little bit different. Every player wants to play for their country, every player wants to play in the World Cup.

“I know that if I do well for Milan, then that I have a good chance to make the squad. I spoke to (England manager Thomas) Tuchel... before the international break at the end of the season, and he just said that I need to just keep on doing what I am doing, keep on improving.

“I’m sure if I do well in Milan and Milan does well as a whole, then I will have a good chance to go. I have my eye on it, because I haven’t been (to a World Cup) and yes, it will be a really proud moment.”