AC Milan's head coach, Paulo Fonseca, spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of the match against Empoli at the San Siro tomorrow.
Question: The most commonly used term when talking about Milan is 'balance'. Could it be the synthesis between the defensive phase of Milan-Juve and the defensive phase of Slovan-Milan?
"They were two different games with different defensive moments. Against Slovan, there were more transitional moments. We’re working on something that I consider important. Just because we win doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye—that’s what I focused on this week. Winning in Bratislava was important, and I liked it, but we had defensive issues that I can’t ignore. We’ve talked about them to improve this aspect."
Is it a learning issue? What do the players think? Fonseca replied:
"Sometimes problems arise during matches. Against Juve, we worked a lot on defensive organization, and the team performed well. Now we faced a team focused on transitions and had issues. But the players understand. In any case, we are the fifth-best defense in the league; we’ve conceded as many goals as Inter and Lazio. We’re working to improve, but sometimes the problems aren’t tactical. The issue in Bratislava wasn’t tactical but about reading the game and individual moments. We keep working on reading and individual technique. The players get it. It’s important to address the issue. Did we win? Yes. Is everything fine? No. When we work on match-related problems, the team responds positively."
Is it possible to return to a two-striker system at Milan?
"That possibility stays in my mind. We need to use it against teams where we can gain an advantage by playing with two forwards—it’s an option for this squad."
Why can’t Milan secure a decisive victory? Fonseca responded:
"It’s not easy to always dominate against teams like Empoli or Atalanta because of their characteristics. The team creates chances, but we aim for balance: the team creates, but we need defensive security to keep doing so. In Bratislava, we had an opportunity to control the game after the goal, but we suffered in other situations, and the team felt that moment. The most important thing is to seek this balance between offensive and defensive phases."
Is it better to have Rafael Leao on the field rather than on the bench? Do you agree?
"Right now, yes. Coaches have different strategies. I’ve used two. One didn’t work; the other seems to be. I’m very satisfied with Rafa’s reaction to being on the bench. But I want consistency. The team needs this version of Rafa."
What was the strategy that didn’t work?
"I can’t say (laughs)."
Empoli defends very well. What should Milan do differently compared to the match against Slovan?
"We can say that teams need two offensive approaches. When we face Juve and Slovan, it’s one approach. Now we need another approach to face Empoli and Atalanta. What is that approach? Let’s just say there are different ways of attacking. Against a team like Empoli, certain aspects are more important compared to facing Juve. What are these aspects? I can’t say. Tomorrow’s game against Empoli will be very tough. They’re very aggressive defensively. They don’t concede goals and are currently the fourth-best defense. It will be challenging."
On the constant changes in the center-back pair, Fonseca commented:
"It’s clear that I have a more stable pairing than others. But we also need to understand that we have many matches, and we can’t always play the same players. Matteo was injured, played one game, and after the injury, it was difficult for him to play another. I know it’s important to have consistency in the defensive line, but the problem is that we have many matches, and with injuries, we need to manage. It’s a management issue, almost mandatory at this point. We’re happy, with almost no injuries. I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s very, very positive. And this is also thanks to the way we’re managing the players."
Are you concerned about the 9-point gap?
"I can’t say anything else; I’d like to have more points. But I’ll keep moving forward with positivity."
The goal conceded in Bratislava seems identical to Udinese's action that led to Reijnders being sent off. If the same mistake is always made, is there no one who can speak to the team on the field?
"It seems like the same situation, because in the end, we saw Tijji running after the player. But it's a totally different situation. There’s no comparison. On corners, we have three players prepared for that moment. It was an individual choice, it was an individual (wrong, editor's note) decision. On the field, you can talk, of course, but it’s an individual choice. These are, however, totally different situations."
Can we dominate the midfield a bit more compactly, leaving space for our quicker players?
"Are you asking if we can stay further back to create more space for the attackers? In the last match, we had two scenarios. In many moments, we pushed forward because Bratislava was defending with 10 players in front of the box. However, we scored two goals with space. Ideally, we would have both scenarios. When we recover the ball, we need to understand that we have players who can move quickly. But when it’s not possible, we have to execute an organized attack. The goals we score are more often with space than with positional or organized attacks. The goals we usually score are far more from ball recovery and exploiting space."
Is it an issue that coaches are always under so much pressure and stress?
"We can’t escape this pressure when we’re at clubs like Milan or Manchester City. I don’t know what happened with Guardiola (and the scratches on his face, editor's note). But being here means facing pressure every moment, every day. Not only from the media and fans but also internally, with the players. We’re a team that must always win. If we don’t want to deal with this pressure, we can’t be here, at this level. I don’t think there’s any other way. It’s immense, immense pressure. You feel it every minute, every day. I say football is for strong people. If we’re not strong, we can’t stay in football at this level."
Can Youssouf Fofana rest tomorrow since he’s one booking away from suspension?
"At this moment, I can’t take the risk of not using Fofana. The next match is the most important. I expect Fofana to play a smart game and avoid getting booked. What concerns me isn’t Fofana right now. If he makes a mistake, he makes a mistake. I expect the others not to make mistakes at this moment."
Teams at the top of the table, like Milan, have changed a lot. Is the justification for this transition process running out?
"I’m sure that in the end, we’ll be ahead of some of these teams. But let’s talk about us. We started preseason with 15 players and the 'kids.' We went to the USA, and it was fantastic. We started working with the other players—those most influential in the squad, who were at the Euros—just eight days before the first match. Then we never had time to train properly. Now, slowly, our training is more about video sessions; we’re improving. But when you change so much, it’s more difficult. It doesn’t seem to me that these teams, apart from Napoli, missed players in preseason. Those four or five weeks of training are very important when you’re undergoing changes. Then, one of these teams doesn’t play in the Champions League midweek. Napoli has a new coach but has the whole week to work. Then there are two very strong teams like Inter and Atalanta, with the same coach for years. If we want to look only at the results, I’m the first to say we need to do more."
Fonseca, can you talk to us about Ismael Bennacer's condition?
"We're waiting for Bennacer in the coming period and aiming to recover him for the second half of the season. He can be important for us. We are confident about Bennacer's recovery."
Against Empoli, there's no room for mistakes... The win-or-go-home nature of every match, which you don’t have in the Champions League, what effect does it have?
"In Madrid, we were under pressure... I can say that I’m experienced now when it comes to dealing with pressure: from the very first day I’ve been here, every match has been like this. There’s nothing new about tomorrow; it’s the same pressure. The players are also used to it. We all know that we have to win tomorrow, and then against Sassuolo, and then Atalanta. I don’t feel any more pressure than in other matches. I’m not easy on myself; I’m the first to put pressure on myself."
But the pressure of being at the top is different from the pressure of being eighth or ninth... Fonseca commented:
"That’s why I say I’m experienced—I haven’t been up there yet (smiles). It’s tough for the teams that are behind; the pressure to win is much better. But there’s always pressure. The team in first place, like Napoli now, feels a lot of pressure: there’s always pressure. Maybe for me now, it’s a different kind of pressure than Napoli’s. We work hard here, but I always sleep very well. I don’t sleep many hours, but the hours I sleep are very good. I have a one-year-old child... That’s the only thing that keeps me from sleeping well (smiles)."
Can you tell us something about the lineup? Fonseca replied:
"I can’t say anything, but in an hour you’ll know the team that will play. I’m not the one talking. A dramatic twist? Maybe (laughs). Maybe there’s something different."
