Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello has commented on the derby performance today, and he believes the result and performance can spur the side on after a difficult start to the season.
Aside from the Venezia game, Milan have looked sub-par in almost every aspect of the game, and questions have been stacking up about several aspects of the football club. From the owner to the players, everything has been scrutinised.
However, the result against Inter has given the season a new lease of life, offering the Rossoneri a chance to restart themselves.
Milan did everything superbly. From a tactical perspective, the Diavolo were better than the hosts, and they seemingly gave more on the night, which Fonseca had predicted to be the case before the game.
Given his job was on the line against the Nerazzurri, Fonseca has been praised for his approach and Fabio Capello offered the Portuguese head coach some words of positivity when speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News).
“He [Fonseca] deserves great compliments. I liked Abraham and Morata a lot. They are not area centre-forwards, but they know what it means to move for the team, to help, to open spaces, to press, to make that extra run. Milan’s victory started with their spirit of sacrifice. The way I see it, I would confirm Abraham and Morata as a pair for life in the future.
“The derby victory will certainly give Fonseca more peace of mind, especially in his daily work. Milan have caught up with Inter in the standings, we are only at the beginning of the championship and everything is still up for grabs. The defeat, however, I don’t think it will have much of an impact on the Nerazzurri. A setback can happen, even if unexpected and painful.”
Definitely agree with the legend! This 11 should be the starting point and we now have to reinforce the squad around them. Another ST (J.David) and CM/CDM (Ricci) are necessary and quality matters at this late stage of team building, but we’ll get Embolo and Caqueret.
I would like to see the same formation again but with someone else on the left. Leao will always be a liability defensively. Yesterday you saw 10 players fighting and running and than Leao who never looked like he cared.
From the game you could tell that Foncesca had told him to stay with Pavard when defending but even that was hard for him
I was thinking of maybe promoting Traore on short term… last 2 games he played for us he scored goals and he’s 19
This. If Fonseca can change the me to we attitude, I will give him so much credit.
The game against Inter really was a “we” game. Even Leao though it didn’t totally seem it.
He played hard and actually passed the ball. He was upset to come out not because of the selection of the coach, but because he felt like he could ACTUALLY break the deadlock.
This was a caring from Theo and Leao I haven’t seen in a long time.
Emerson is sooooooooo bad. Burnt on the first goal and easily could have caused one to two more.
A lot of high scores. I’ll even rate RLC above a 6.
“Milan’s victory started with their spirit of sacrifice“.. exactly. Carry on like last night and we’re scudetto contenders again – with or without RedBird.
Fonseca should have the balls to bench Leao permanently and shift to a 3-4-1-2. After Pioli was dismissed I resisted a 3 back system manager because of our wingers. I thought Leao might finally take the next step under a new manager. I was wrong. It’s the same old Leao and I have concluded that we should have had the balls to sell him in the summer and shift to a 3 back system manager, like Conte, who has the same Napoli that finished 10th on their way to a title challenge. Just like he did with a Juventus that finished 7th a decade ago.
So bench Leao now. Go with Pavlovic-Gabbia-Tomori as the back three, Theo as left wingback, Calabria/Royal as right wingback, a rotation of Rejinders/RLC/Fofana/Musah as the two middle CMs, Pulisic as the trequartista, with permission to drift wide both to the left and right, and Tammy and Morata up top (with Morata also given some permission to roam, which effectively would create a fluid 3-4-1-2/3-4-3). Call up Liberali to be the reserve trequartista, Vos can be another body for the central midfield, and call up Bartesaghi permanently, since we’ll need another CB as well.
Sell Leao in January and bring in a proper alternative to Theo while pocketing the rest of the cash for summer 2025 adjustments. 11/20 Serie A teams use 3 back systems, 12 if you count Napoli (which played with 4 at the back last time out). Clearly there is a revolution afoot and AC Milan should join it.