In the columns of La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Rossoneri coach Arrigo Sacchi commented on Milan's current form as they prepare to face Atalanta tonight:
"Talking about the Rossoneri, one thing must be stated upfront: continuity has not yet been found this season. Fonseca's team delivers good performances and then suddenly dips. In my opinion, this is a normal phenomenon if we consider that the coach is in his first year of work and the players need to adapt to his methods and ideas. It’s fair to give the coach time to implement and showcase what he has set out to achieve."
Sacchi added:
"In November, across six matches, they collected four wins and two draws: it seems to me that there’s growth compared to the initial period, and this suggests that confidence and self-esteem are increasing as well."
"Of course, facing Atalanta is no walk in the park, and it will take a top-tier performance, both technically and psychologically, to stop the Bergamaschi. You know I don’t like to focus on individuals because I firmly believe football is a collective sport, not an individual one, and therefore it’s the group that must make the difference."
"I am confident that if the Rossoneri truly play as a united eleven, they can trouble Atalanta and make them suffer. What does it mean to play as eleven? Simple: everyone must participate in the play; everyone must attack, and everyone must defend. I know it sounds like a cliché, but few teams actually operate this way."
Sacchi concluded:
"If you’re not well-connected between the lines, if there aren’t the right distances, you can’t press effectively. And without pressing, in today’s football, you go nowhere. This is a golden rule that should be memorised."
