Lessons from Cremonese Debacle – Milan Weaknesses Exposed | OneFootball

Massimiliano Allegri lost on his second Serie A debut for Milan as newly promoted Cremonese pulled off a stunning win at San Siro. Despite being heavily fancied to take three points at the start of the new campaign, the Rossoneri suffered yet another heartbreak.

Yet to recover from last season’s underwhelming eighth-place finish, Milan hit a new low at the beginning of 2025/26. Allegri’s return should have served to reinvigorate the faltering giants, but the seven-time European champions continue to underperform.

Summer signing Samuele Ricci stayed on the bench, while Matteo Gabbia fared well at the back, even though Milan conceded twice. Both players hope to make the Italy squad for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, provided Gli Azzurri qualify for the highly anticipated tournament in North America.

After failing to reach back-to-back World Cup editions, Gennaro Gattuso’s men cannot afford another letdown. Furthermore, Italy will try to earn a place at EURO 2028 shortly after the world’s most prestigious international competition. For those interested in securing seats at upcoming fixtures, you can click here to explore ticket options for EURO 2028 matches.

As for Milan, not even a sold-out San Siro could lift them out of their malaise, as the home crowd watched in disbelief while their side labored without inspiration. Over 75,000 fans were in the stadium, witnessing the biggest upset of Matchday 1, as Cremonese, against all odds, won their first-ever away match against the Rossoneri in Serie A.

Indeed, Milan boasted the highest average attendance in Serie A last season. However, the passionate support from the stands couldn’t translate into the desired results on the pitch. Next weekend’s trip to Lecce has all the makings of a must-win contest if Allegri’s men are to avoid another lackluster start.

Lack of Center-Forward

Rafael Leao’s absence was a significant setback, but Milan should’ve still had enough firepower to beat Cremonese. Yet, Christian Pulisic didn’t bring his A-game to the table while Santiago Gimenez delivered another erratic performance.

Milan desperately need a prolific center-forward, but after calling off the Victor Boniface deal, time is ticking away for the club to sign a new striker. Sporting CP’s Conrad Harder is the leading candidate to spearhead Milan’s attack this season. However, it’s debatable whether he is what the Rossoneri need.

Lack of Creativity

At 39, Luka Modric was by far Milan’s best midfielder against Cremonese, becoming the oldest Serie A debutant. However, the former Ballon d’Or winner lacked support in the engine room as Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek couldn’t match his vision and composure.

Losing Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City during the transfer window could prove a devastating blow for Milan this season. To make matters worse, Ardon Jashari’s cameo appearance failed to convince, fueling concerns that he could turn out to be Milan’s next Charles De Ketelaere.

Lack of Resilience

Federico Bonazzoli’s overhead kick is already a contender for the ‘goal of the season.’ However, that doesn’t hide Milan’s fragility at the back. There’s hardly an excuse for conceding twice at home against one of the hottest relegation candidates.

Strahinja Pavlovic may have atoned for his sloppy start with a first-half equalizer, yet the Serbian looked shaky all game, just like Fikayo Tomori and Gabbia. Therefore, Allegri may want to consider starting Koni De Winter at Stadio Via del Mare.

Verdict

Things are not looking promising by any stretch of the imagination. If it’s any consolation, Allegri’s first stint at San Siro got off to a similar start, only for the experienced coach to win the Scudetto that year. Unfortunately, Milan will likely be out of the title race this season unless Allegri weaves his magic.

As things stand, a top-four finish would be a huge success for the downtrodden Rossoneri.