AC Milan's head coach, Paulo Fonseca, spoke to the media in a press conference. He said these statements in view of tomorrow's fixture against Genoa:
How were the days after Milan–Red Star?
“For me, it would have been easy to speak only about the win or the four consecutive victories in the Champions League. Tomorrow, AC Milan turns 125 years old, and we must live up to the club’s history. For me, with that attitude, we could not honor a club that has made football history. I spoke to the players I needed to speak to. We are ready for a day that will reflect Milan’s greatness.”
A specific approach for Theo?
“At the moment, I have nothing to add to what I’ve already said. I won’t name the players I’ve spoken to here. Still, I looked them in the eye and told them what I think. Now we need to move forward.”
The team’s morale, Fonseca commented:
“After the match, we went into the locker room, and we all shared the same feeling. For me, this was positive, a first step toward understanding what happened. We talked, the team worked well, and the atmosphere is as good as ever. We are a family; we must solve our issues in the dressing room, and that’s what we’ve done.”
Will Theo play tomorrow? Have you felt the backing of the ownership?
“Tomorrow, I will field the team I believe is the best to win. Today, I’m not ready to reveal my choices. You know we attended the academy’s celebration; we spoke, and I felt the club’s support as always.”
Why did you decide to speak publicly?
“I always tell the truth—it’s hard for me to hide what I feel after a match. I believe I must always be honest. Sometimes, these are important messages that need to be conveyed. I felt it was necessary. You’re not on the inside and don’t know everything: I had this necessity.”
Will some of the academy boys play tomorrow?
“The Milan Future project is important to bring academy players to the first team. We’ve been working with them since day one, and tomorrow we’ll see a few of them on the pitch.”
Did you expect these challenges with the senior players?
“Yes. At this level, it’s normal to encounter such situations. They are paid to find solutions and solve problems, and that’s what I’m doing. I never turn a blind eye to a problem—I face it and don’t hide. If it exists, I’m here ready to fix it. This is normal. In every team, in every family, there are problems.”
It might seem like you blame others—first referees, now players. Does this perception concern you?
“I’m not worried. Honestly, I’m not concerned about what others think. If I were, it would be difficult to work. Everyone has their opinion, but I’m the one here. I know the team, how it operates, and how they work every day. I can’t act based on what people think.”
Tomorrow, Camarda could score his first goal in front of van Basten...
“It’s good you ask me this question because I need to clarify something. We must let Camarda grow at his own pace. Expectations and pressure are not good for young players. We must not place that burden on him: he’s a balanced and talented young player. I’m mindful of his development and careful about how and when I use him. These players must play at the right moment, without unnecessary pressure or the obligation to be decisive.”
The same defensive mistakes after five months…
“After the Red Star game, I didn’t talk about tactical or technical issues because the problem wasn’t that—it was about attitude, the only issue. And that influences other aspects. It wasn’t a defensive problem. They hardly created anything. I think the team is much better defensively; this wasn’t a tactical issue.”
Have you experienced similar situations in your career?
“Yes, this has happened before, as I think it has for all coaches. It’s normal. We must do what we believe is right to resolve the situation. Here, the specifics might differ from other clubs I’ve managed, but I’ve faced similar circumstances.”
Did you expect these challenges? Did you ever think, ‘Why am I doing this?’
(Laughs) “If we think everything at this level will be smooth sailing, that’s not true. At this level, these situations always arise because of the status and dynamics of the players—it’s the same in nearly all big clubs.”
Did the directors speak to the team?
“No, they didn’t. There was no need.”
Were your post-match comments aligned with the club?
“I spoke to the team and then to the club—it’s the norm.”
What’s missing from this team? What’s the issue?
“We’ve already discussed this, but let’s do it again. I was brought in to change the playing style. When I arrived, we had 15 players, went to the USA with 15 players and many kids. Several key players were away with their national teams. We trained and did well, but not with the main players. They returned eight days before the first league game. You can’t change everything—or much—in eight days. Then it was hard to train because we’ve been playing every three days. The steps I want to take require more time. However, we’ve already made progress and played good matches. In Italy, we haven’t achieved the results we wanted, but tactically, there’s been progress. The problem, to me, is mental—a roller coaster of focus. Games like Empoli, Sassuolo… Even in Bergamo, we did well. Atalanta created more chances against Real Madrid than against us. The issue was the second half, where we didn’t attack. Then came the Champions League, and we lacked the ambition to keep growing. When the team thinks a game, like against Red Star, will be easy, they become complacent. That’s the issue. I looked back at last season’s final 10 games and saw the same discussions about attitude—it hasn’t changed. It’s not just this year.”
Do you need new leaders? Who will wear the captain’s armband tomorrow?
“I have my opinion. When I arrived, Milan already had three captains: Calabria, Theo, and Rafa. Imagine if I changed the captain—you’d crucify me. I trust the captain we have. Whether I agree is another matter, but I’ve respected the hierarchy and will continue to do so unless I decide otherwise.”
So, Leao as captain?
“It’s a possibility.”
Is Milan out of the Scudetto race? Do you still hold out hope?
“As always, I want to be honest. I think it’s more difficult now, but deep down, I still believe. What more can I say? It’s not easy, but I still believe.”
How would a top-four finish without the Scudetto be received?
“I’m focused only on tomorrow. We’re in a great position in the Champions League, and we want to replicate that in Serie A. That’s all I can think about for now.”
Modern defenders focus on the ball rather than the man…
“I disagree, and I’ll explain why. Until Cagliari, we had this issue—defending crosses and marking in the box, including posture. After Cagliari, we’ve significantly improved. In Bergamo, we didn’t have that problem. We conceded a goal where someone sat on Theo, which is a foul everywhere. Then there was an issue on a corner. Against Red Star, we defended the box well—Musah lost the ball, and they scored from outside the box. It’s not a specific problem of defending the area. Our defenders have improved a lot.”
How are you?
“Good, I’m always good.” (Smiles)
On Jimenez:
“He’s fine.” (Smiles) “He can play right-back, left-back, right-wing, and left-wing. His versatility is great.”
Do others need the same treatment as Leao?
“Every player has their personality and particularities. Different players require different strategies.”
My horse trainer has been preparing for a race for a month and a half. Can you give a timeline for when we’ll see Milan as you envision it?
“I’ve already seen glimpses of the Milan I want in some matches. We just need to be more consistent.”
When will we see that consistency?
“I’m not a magician; I can’t predict. Maybe tomorrow, then not the next day—it’s like a roller coaster. What I want is a team that’s consistent, especially in attitude. We can make technical or tactical errors, but this mental inconsistency is difficult for me to understand.”
Is it fixable? Fonseca said:
“Yes, but not like the horse!” (Laughs) “I think so. I’m sure of it. These things come with experience."
