Paulo Fonseca loves playing the drums and knows that sometimes you have to hit hard. His post-match interviews after the game against Red Star will inevitably change Milan’s season: polite as always, but with strong underlying messages. Most notably, he seemed tired, worn out by the pressure and disappointment.
Fonseca could have stuck to clichés, but instead, he attacked the team, even at the risk of jeopardizing his future at Milan. But what was he trying to say? Who was he addressing?
When asked if Theo Hernández might find himself on the bench like Rafael Leao recently did, Fonseca responded:
"Theo like Leao?" and laughed during the press conference.
What did he mean by that?
The meaning behind his statements, rather explicit, revolves around one word: attitude. Or if you prefer, commitment and focus. Fonseca believes the team is strong but demands greater effort, dedication, and concentration from certain players. He has been vocal about this since the second matchday, following the defeat to Parma: “I’m disappointed,” he said. “It’s hard to explain our defensive attitude. Clearly, we have a defensive problem.” Three and a half months later, that sentiment hasn’t changed much. Nor has Fonseca’s approach: direct and forceful, openly addressing problems.
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In other circumstances, a coach might downplay the issues, let the directors speak, or vent privately in the locker room. Fonseca, right or wrong, lays all his cards on the table. He goes head-to-head with everyone—from referees (handled more diplomatically by Scaroni and Ibrahimović) to the players. This time, he chose to call out his players, and the dissatisfaction among Milan fans might lend weight to his words.
Who was Fonseca targeting?
The recipients of his criticism weren’t explicitly named, and that’s the key point. However, certain clues emerge. Fonseca is referring to 2–3 players, not the entire team. He’s addressing attitudes in training, not just in matches. Over the past few months, his relationships with the senior players have paradoxically been more strained.
Fonseca has been unhappy with Theo Hernández’s focus, and not just since the Red Star game. There’s been much discussion about Theo’s struggles—both on and off the pitch—and yesterday’s game hasn’t changed the perception of a player performing well below his potential. The connection Theo had with Pioli? Nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Davide Calabria left the pitch yesterday wearing the captain’s armband, visibly upset about being subbed off. No, he didn’t embrace his coach.
As for Fikayo Tomori, he even picked up a yellow card while warming up, leaving him suspended for the next match without playing a minute. Clearly, Fonseca expects more from these players, just as he does from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who’s been aimless for months and seems to play with hesitancy.
Milan, what happens now?
The pressing issue is how relations between the coach and the team will evolve. Fonseca and his players will reconvene 12 hours after his conference remarks, and they won’t be able to avoid addressing the situation.
A direction must be set, and the rift mended if Milan wants to bounce back. Could we see more surprising benchings in Sunday’s Milan-Genoa match? It’s possible. After all, Leão now plays with a different fire and shows flashes of brilliance, to the delight of anyone who loves football. The players’ pride, strongly challenged by Fonseca’s remarks about Milan’s young talents and future stars, will need to rise to the occasion.
For Milan, that’s a good thing: if things aren’t working—and the Serie A standings confirm they’re not—there’s no point in letting problems linger. Bold decisions are needed: win or lose with your convictions, rebuild together, or go down swinging, with a solo drum performance to cap it all off, as relayed via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
