AC Milan head coach, Paulo Fonseca, has spoken to the microphones of the various journalists present at Milanello today for the press conference in view of tomorrow's Serie A match against Torino, the first official match of the season for the Portuguese coach with his new team. Here are his words:
"Very positive sensations from day one. Today, they are even more positive. The players are 'arriving' at different times. We are ready, the team is ready to start the championship with confidence, positive feelings, and great ambition. We want to play this match with our identity to show the fans. It was hard to imagine, with only 5 weeks, having such positive sensations. I didn't expect so much from the players; they have absorbed our ideas. I am very satisfied and with very positive feelings."
From what starting block does Milan start?
"Obviously, there has been a big change; our way of playing and thinking about the matches is different. We had only 5 weeks. I don't want to say that we are in first place, but we are ready to start this race."
On Youssouf Fofana:
"I don't want to speak before the medical visits; after that, we can talk about Fofana. It is no secret that he is arriving, and I am satisfied with the arrival of the players."
On Ruben Loftus-Cheek:
"He played lower in pitch in these matches. I think he has the characteristics to play two positions: midfielder and attacking midfielder."
Is this Milan the strongest group you have ever coached? Fonseca replied:
"It's too early to say, but it's a very strong group. With ambition. I don't change what I said in the first conference; we are here to fight for the Scudetto. Every day I work with my guys, I have more confidence in this. This group is here to fight for the Scudetto."
How will your Milan be different from the Milan of previous years?
"I don't like making comparisons. You here in Italy have many tactical analysts; it's your job. I don't want to talk about the details we work on, but I think some people who work in football and understand a bit of tactics can notice that it's a different Milan. I don't want to say what is different, but in my opinion, it's clear. I'm not saying it's better, but it's different."
How do you bridge the gap with the first place?
"Inter has been very strong in the last two years. There are also other teams: Napoli and Atalanta are teams that can fight for the Scudetto. Also Juventus. What we want and believe is that we can enter this fight against a very strong team like Inter. It's a team that has had the same coach and the same players for years. We believe that we can enter this fight."
Is the transfer market closed?
"With the arrival of Fofana, for me, the market is closed for arrivals. We need to offload players because we have too many; it's not easy to work with so many players."
What difficulties are there against Torino?
"The first match is always difficult. Torino is a very good team. I know the coach well. They have a defensive line of 5 players, and they also have quality with the ball. We have prepared well for the match; we want to win. The players are motivated. We know it will be a different match from those we have had recently: City, Real, and Barcelona do not play like Torino; the game will not be as 'open.' We expect a more defensive team that waits for the counterattack, also because of their characteristics. A totally different match."
What is still missing in this team?
"Right now, nothing is missing. Not everything is positive; when there is a change, it takes time. But I don't say what needs to be changed. We are not a perfect team; we are far from being perfect. But I don't want to say these things to our opponents. They are very clear to me, but I don't want to give this advantage to the opponents."
The attack of Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alvaro Morata makes the fans dream...
"I have already tried it, I have already thought about it, but I don't know if they will play tomorrow. Chukwu is fine, Morata has just arrived, Pulisic is playing another role and I like it a lot. Rafa is also fine. It's a possibility, as well as playing with other players. Jovic had a good preseason, Loftus can also play as an attacking midfielder. Tomorrow, whoever is in the best condition in all respects will play."
Is there something that went surprisingly well?
"Yes, I have already said that I am surprised by the shape of the players and how open they have been. They have worked and tried to do what we are asking them. They have learned faster than I expected. At this moment, the team is doing better than I thought."
Can Yacine Adli leave? Fonseca answered:
"I don't want to talk about names; I have already spoken to players who have the chance to play more elsewhere than here. We have some players who, for me, at this moment, have more chances to play. I have already talked to them: with the arrival of the new players, it is normal to have less space."
How is Strahinja Pavlovic doing?
"Pavlovic and Reijnders are not in the best physical condition to start the match tomorrow; it will be difficult to see them in the starting lineup. They have the chance to come into the match, but from the beginning, it is difficult."
On the fans:
"It is very important. It was very emotional to see 50,000 fans against Monza. Tomorrow, I think we will have the stadium practically full; it will be exciting. Sometimes, it's not just about the results. We must play with ambition to win but also to make the fans proud and eager to come to the stadium to see us. It's too important to always have them by our side, but we must also bring them to us. We must play and win to make them proud and satisfied with our style of play."
Regarding Portuguese "fado," (a type of music in Portugal):
"I don't like fado much (laughs). I believe a lot in positive energy; fado is melancholic. I think I arrived at a club like Milan at the right moment in my career. The experience here in Italy in Rome helped me a lot. If there's a time to coach Milan, it's now."
Fonseca continued:
"We coaches need to understand these moments. We don't need to say anything to the players. The difficult part for a coach is to make quality players play as a team. To tell them what to do to play as a team. Today, the teams that win are those with quality players but who are more of a team, who work together, who are united in every moment. I would like to always see that on the field here at Milan. We always need to make the players understand that together we are stronger."
