Demetrio Albertini, former AC Milan midfielder, spoke with the media during the press conference for the presentation of the 2024 Gran Galà del Calcio. He started by commenting on Paulo Fonseca's work as Milan’s coach:
"Can he become a top manager? Well, if he wins a Scudetto, yes (laughs). A coach's work depends on results, which are the outcome of a year’s effort. If Fonseca appears on the list of top managers, it will mean he has won the championship. Fonseca seems very straightforward to me, though from the outside we often judge based on what we want to see rather than what’s actually happening. Managing a group of players on a daily basis isn’t easy—it's why I didn’t want to become a coach myself (laughs, ed.). What Milan lacks right now is consistency. They deliver extraordinary performances and then drop points, like what happened in Cagliari after the Real Madrid match. When you change coaches, it’s normal not to achieve the desired results immediately. So, it’s too soon to judge him."
Is Milan a title contender?
"In my opinion, based on what they’ve shown so far, no. But the season is still long. I see other teams that are more solid and well-equipped. And I say this as a Milan fan… There’s still a lot to go. For me, winning the Scudetto depends on how negative moments are managed. Every team faces a downturn during the season—it’s about how that period is handled," as relayed via Milannews.it.
Saturday will feature Milan vs. Juventus. Could Paulo Fonseca be at risk in case of a loss? Albertini replied:
"You don’t evaluate a coach’s work based on one win or loss. Objectively, there are still too many games left. I hope it will be a spectacular match watched around the world. Our competition is also with other leagues."
What does this clash mean for Milan?
"It could give them the awareness of being a great team. Milan has good players. Beating Juventus would give the Rossoneri confidence, just like the win in the derby did."
What kind of player is Tijjani Reijnders?
"He’s a good player who can become important for Milan. Honestly, I didn’t expect it—he surprised me positively. A comparison with Rijkaard? He’s good, but I wouldn’t draw parallels with Frankie," says former Milan legendary midfielder Demetrio Albertini
What do you think of Rafael Leao?
"I see a strong player, but a bit inconsistent. He needs to work on that, but he has immense potential. Strong players face pressure—it doesn’t weigh on the weak ones."
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"Our world isn’t used to this. In other sports, there’s much more focus on psychological aspects."
Does today’s football lack a sense of belonging?
"I really value the sense of belonging. It used to be tied more to youth academies, but now I extend it to Italian identity. I miss this cohesion, which is crucial during difficult times. Are there too few Italians in Milan? In my opinion, yes."
