AC Milan came out on top at the Santiago Bernabeu and made history. The Rossoneri team beat Real Madrid 1-3 thanks to goals scored by Malick Thiaw, Alvaro Morata, and Tijjani Reijnders.
It was an outstanding performance from the entire team, both defensively and offensively, and the Champions League standings now have a whole new look. After the game, Rossoneri coach Paulo Fonseca said these words:.
First the derby, now Real Madrid. Milan is surprising everyone....
"I must say, playing in Italy is truly difficult," he told Milan TV. "It was a great match; the guys played with tremendous courage. We won by playing a quality game, especially in the first half, where I think we did some magnificent things. In the second half, we struggled a bit, which is normal. We can’t forget that in their last Champions League match, Real was down 2-0 and scored five goals. We can’t forget what happened with City a few years ago. When we scored the third goal, the team understood it was important to defend together and well, and I think we did that. I’m really satisfied; the players showed great courage and character."
How important is this match for Milan’s future? Is it a turning point? Fonseca said:
"I’ve been asked this question so many times since I arrived in Italy (laughs). We hope so, we always hope so. This is a different match; I have to be honest that when we play these kinds of games, I feel more confident than when we play in Italy. In Italy, people don’t understand—it’s truly difficult. We see teams in Europe playing against Italian teams that mark man-to-man, like Leverkusen against Atalanta. It’s tough. They don’t experience that, but we face it in almost every game. Serie A is the toughest league in the world, I’m sure of it. In Europe, we have a bit more space, more time to play a different game. We have to understand this and adjust our style to play both this kind of football and what’s required in Italy."
Coach, this is your victory. Tactically, you got everything right... Fonseca answered:
"No, it’s the players’ victory—they did very well. We made changes; even before Monza, I had today in mind, so on Saturday, I didn’t play Musah, Emerson, Tomori, and Leao. I already had this structure in my head for today. We trained well and came here with confidence. Real has great players who can decide games on their own. I think Musah and Emerson did very well against Vinicius, who is a decisive player."
On Malick Thiaw:
"He’s in great form; he’s very important in our low buildup."
What’s needed to maintain this consistency in Italy? Fonseca commented:
"We need time; we’re trying to change a lot of things. I think the team is growing in many areas. We need to keep growing. We don’t have much time to train, but I think we must keep improving; there’s a lot to work on."
On Alvaro Morata:
"It’s not just about the goal. He did a magnificent job, just like in the other matches. Even if he hadn’t scored, I’d be here saying the same things. He’s a great professional and works hard for the team."
What a game from Rafael Leao... Fonseca commented:
"I have to be honest, I think Rafa can do even more. He did well, but in many situations, he could make even more decisive choices in the final meters. He had a good game but can do even more."
But with an even better Rafael Leao, you could win the Champions League...
"(Laughs) Now, I have to focus on winning the match against Cagliari," as relayed via Milannews.it.
