AC Milan head coach, Paulo Fonseca spoke to the media in a press conference after the match won against Real Madrid 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Here are his statements, as relayed by our correspondents present there, Vito and Miguel.
Vito Angelè asked head coach Paulo Fonseca about Strahinja Pavlovic, the newest Milan signing, and the changes in training:
"Pavlovic is a central defender, with characteristics we wanted. He is an aggressive player, he's also left-footed. I think we need a central defender who is left-footed. He will bring also physicality to our defence. As for our moment, we are just starting now, we have three weeks of work. We have a lot of work to do. The first week was very very positive and we are working hard, we are working with an open mind, that's why we start to see some things in our game. I think the atmosphere is really positive."
Another question about Strahinja Pavlovic: obviously, it is relatively late in the pre-season, when do you anticipate seeing him join up with the squad, and how important of a role do you think he'll play in the Serie A season?
"He is now in Milanello. He will start to work now. Just when we return, we will be together. Of course, these players now have some advantage as they are working with us since the first day. But, Pavlovic will not have difficultues to learn our game, the way we defend. I don't know when he'd be ready. Let's see... But, I'm really confident because I know the quality of the player."
On Real Madrid, Fonseca said:
"I don't want to express my opinion because I was focusing on my team. But Real Madrid is an amazing team with a lot of quality, difficult to play against them. It was a hard game in some moments. They are an amazing team with an amazing coach and players but it was a good test for us."
Any particular thoughts about Endrick of Real Madrid:
"He's a young player with a great future, of course, he needs time now; the football in Spain is totally different from Brazil. But, he has a lot of quality and I'm 100% that he'll be an amazing player in the future, better than he is now."
Any idea about the future of Torriani, and Liberali in particular? Can they stay with you in the whole season in the squad?
"I honestly don't know. Liberali is doing very well, he's playing with a lot of courage, he's showing his quality, we have to think well, because what is better for Liberali? To have the possiblity to play more or to stay with us to improve and to play and when not playing with our main team and then he can have the possiblity to play with Milan Futuro. We have to think of all of these possibilities. But I'm really happy with him and all the young players because for them it's the first time to have these kind of games and they are showing so much maturity and courage."
On the team's work, Fonseca said:
"It's really positive. I think it's clear, the intention of the team to dominate the game with the ball. I'm really happy with the courage of all of the players because to play this game, we have to play with courage and all of them played with courage. It's a very good feeling and of course the result is not the most important but winning is a good feeling all the time and make the players believe in the process."
What are your impressions regarding Yunus Musah, where he would play and what his potential is as a midfieldere?
"I'm 200% sure he's the kind of player for our game. He showed today, in 30 minutes, it was amazing with just a few days of working with us. I'm very confident with him. I believe he can be very important for our team. But of course, he must improve many things, but my opnion? He has the right characteristics to play in this position in our game."
On Christian Pulisic, Fonseca said:
"Another amazing player. He just arrived a few days ago like Musah. He didn't have time to learn everything and more details. But he has unbelievable qualities, also in the last year, he was a very important player for Milan."
You haven't been in Milan a lot. But, what is the key to get the chemistry for the players on the field? And what do you think has been the key to unlock Samuel Chukwueze on the right side of the pitch?
"Chuku is more confident. In the last year, he didn't play too much. When a new coach arrives, it's all the time like this, the players to showcase to the new coach. I'm really happy for Chuku, he's doing really really well. I think he's showing his quality. Like Musah and Pulisic, he'll be an important player for the team. As for the chemistry of the players, (the key) is to explain to them, to make them understand the advantage of playing like this, the participation in these kind of games; against City, against Madrid, they bring confidence to the players. It's not so much about the results, I think it's about the way we are playing."
