Two missed penalties in the same match by two players who shouldn’t have taken them. On Sunday evening, Paulo Fonseca thought he was on a hidden camera show when he saw Theo Hernandez, the first to miss, step up to the penalty spot, followed by Tammy Abraham, who did the same.
The Portuguese coach believed he had already clarified the hierarchy at Milanello in recent weeks. This was evident when Pulisic took the first penalty against Venezia.
The second one was left for Abraham because the score (3-0) was already safe, and the Englishman was still looking for his first goal. That’s why Paulo was perplexed when, with the captain's armband on his arm, Theo took the responsibility of trying to score against De Gea in stoppage time of the first half.
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Could the Milan coach have intervened from the bench to stop the Frenchman, who had initially taken the ball from Morata?
Perhaps, but in reality, Fonseca and his staff didn’t have time to react. Or maybe they thought Pulisic would confidently approach the spot. However, that didn’t happen: the American respected the seniority of his Rossoneri teammate, who was determined to gift himself... "a goal for his birthday".
In the images, it’s clear that Christian didn’t even try to get closer: Hernandez gave him a tap on the shoulder, and he walked away. In short, a shared blame, more or less pronounced.
As soon as he returned to the locker room at halftime, Fonseca reiterated the point bluntly when he listed the mistakes made. He didn’t anticipate the possibility of a second penalty being awarded but made it clear that Pulisic should have taken the first one. Clear and direct.
That’s why he was astonished when, after the referee Pairetto whistled for a foul in the box against Kean and Gabbia, Tomori took the ball and handed it to his friend Abraham.
In that case, Pulisic was right next to them and claimed the ball, but the former Roma striker didn’t give it to him and even pushed him away with his right arm. Fonseca shouted from the bench, but no one did anything to prevent the... English mutiny.
Not even Theo Hernandez, who, as captain, should have enforced the coach’s wishes after his own missed penalty. Another serious mistake for the Frenchman. According to Fonseca, however, the two most at fault are Tammy and Fikayo: neither should have thought of usurping Pulisic’s role. Especially after the heated halftime.
That’s why it wouldn’t be too surprising if, in addition to the suspended Hernandez, Tomori and Abraham took a breather on the bench against Udinese. The rules have weight for Paulo.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport.
