AC Milan's season reached a critical point on Saturday night as they fell 3-2 at home to Atalanta, leaving their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread. The defeat at San Siro, played out in a toxic atmosphere of fan protests and early walkouts, saw the Rossoneri slip to a tie with Roma on 67 points with only two games remaining. With the club's management under heavy fire, director of sport Igli Tare and coach Massimiliano Allegri addressed the media post-match, painting a bleak picture of a team in crisis but vowing to fight on.
Allegri, visibly frustrated, admitted the team had lost its composure after conceding early. "We started well, but after ten minutes we conceded and fell apart," he told DAZN. "The reaction after 3-0 was positive, but we cannot change what happened. Now we have a decisive week ahead and must focus on Genoa." The coach emphasized the need for responsibility but refused to point fingers, saying, "When results are lacking, I am responsible. But now is not the time to look for blame; we need to win on Sunday."
Tare went even further, announcing the possibility of a team retreat before the Genoa match. "We analyzed everything together, including the coach, and we spoke to the group. Sunday is a match point for us, and perhaps we need to go into retreat a few days early, all together," he said. The director did not mince words about the team's mental state: "I see a mental problem. The team is not serene. The fans have the right to protest, but we must accept criticism and react."
Adding to Milan's woes, star winger Rafael Leao will be suspended for the Genoa clash after receiving a yellow card against Atalanta. Allegri confirmed the ban: "Leao was unlucky tonight, but he is an important player and he'll be out on Sunday." Leao was among the lowest-rated performers in the loss, struggling to make an impact before his forced absence.
The match itself saw Atalanta take control early, with the visitors racing to a 3-0 lead by halftime. Milan's Curva Sud ultras abandoned the stadium in the 60th minute, leaving thousands of empty seats as a stark protest against the club's hierarchy, particularly CEO Giorgio Furlani. An 88th-minute goal from Mattia Gabbia and a late strike from another substitute gave Milan hope, but they could not find an equalizer. Raffaele Palladino, who confirmed he will leave Atalanta at season's end, praised his team's "great performance" and dedicated the win to the fans.
For Milan, the math is simple: they must win their remaining two matches—away to Genoa and at home to Udinese—to secure a top-five finish and a Champions League spot. Anything less could see them slip behind Roma, who have a favorable run-in. "I always said it was not in the bag because we haven't faced difficulties until now," Allegri admitted. "Now we are in it, and we have to get out."
The Genoa game has taken on monumental importance. Tare labeled it a "match point," and the team's reaction in the coming days will define their season. With fan confidence at an all-time low and the squad's mental fragility exposed, the retreat may be the last card the management has to play. "The fans are always in our thoughts. We have to give them a different team," Tare added, acknowledging the deep discontent.
In the broader context of Serie A, Milan's collapse has opened the door for Roma, who are now level on points and buoyed by their own resurgence. The battle for Champions League qualification is now down to the wire, with both teams facing tricky final fixtures. For Milan, the season that once promised a Scudetto challenge has dissolved into a desperate scramble for Europe's elite competition.
Allegri concluded with a plea for unity: "We have a week of hard work ahead. We cannot think about what happened; we can only look forward. The group has given everything, and we need to find that spirit again. Sunday is a final."
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
