In the end, Paulo Fonseca managed to connect with many fans, not for what he showed on the pitch, but on a human level. An empathetic person who tried to give his all and never shied away from harsh criticism.
Criticism that was nonetheless deserved because, in six months, Fonseca never convinced anyone in terms of gameplay or ideas. Aside from the matches against Real Madrid and Inter, there were very few other memorable moments. Otherwise, it was a string of poor performances and countless points lost along the way, not to mention his management of the team's star players, as explained by Antonio Vitiello for Milannews.it.
For Fonseca, the adventure at Milan was challenging from day one.
The general feeling is that Paulo was the wrong coach in the wrong place from the moment of his announcement. And that was the original sin committed by the sporting management: underestimating the role of the coach and backing the wrong horse.
The outcome was predictable, Fonseca could even have been dismissed earlier. But that's not the point. What likely struck a nerve were the circumstances of his departure, especially what transpired after the Milan-Roma match, leaving many doubts. It was a way of doing things that was widely disliked.
The former Lille coach became the classic scapegoat over these six months; the blame fell on him, and he paid with his dismissal. However, behind Milan's eighth-place standing are the club's poor decisions, both in building a team that still has gaps and in taking a significant gamble when coaches of the caliber of Allegri, Conte, De Zerbi, Sarri, or even Conceição were available during the summer.
Now, there's an attempt to rectify the situation, albeit belatedly. Fonseca's dismissal is a major admission of responsibility. Unfortunately, the league campaign has become complicated, though it’s not entirely beyond salvation. Fourth place is still attainable, provided the team can string together a series of consecutive wins. Easy? Far from it. Conceição faces the challenge of time, and it will be incredibly tough. The Portuguese coach has been thrust into a difficult scenario, with a restless fanbase and a team that needs rebuilding, mentally even more than physically. Conceição’s mission is truly daunting; he will need tangible support, especially in the transfer market, with targeted signings. Otherwise, Milan risks missing out on the Champions League next year—a prospect that would be truly painful.
Source: Milannews.it
