It is not the way that anyone wanted the discussion to resume, but Theo Hernandez’s red card against Fiorentina has once gain raised questions about who the deputy left-back is in the AC Milan squad.
As Calciomercato.com write, Theo has been given a two-game suspension and now head coach Paulo Fonseca has to decide who will replace him in the games against Udinese and Bologna after the international break.
The curious thing is that Zlatan Ibrahimovic seemed to want to decide for him in the summer, announcing at a press conference: “Theo’s deputy will be Jimenez.” The Spaniard has not played a senior minute this season, which makes it appear as though Fonseca does not share the same opinion as the Swede.
Up until now, Milan Futuro has been Jimenez’s home, despite Ibrahimovic’s endorsement given that he considers him as the perfect alternative to Theo. In the meantime, however, Fonseca has tried Terracciano in that role and he is in pole position for the Udinese game at San Siro.
The former Verona man played as a left-back both in the preseason tour of the USA and in the away draw against Lazio. Jimenez will be promoted to the first team, but for the coach he is further down the pecking order. Another option could be Davide Bartesaghi, though he was sent off against Lecce having been given a few minutes off the bench.
The management of Jimenez is a factor that highlights the difference in views between Ibrahimovic and Fonseca. The director goes one way, the coach the other, or at least that’s how it seems, based on other indications too.
A signal arrived in mid-August, when on the eve of the Torino game Fonseca announced that the incoming mercato was closed for Milan, before Ibra responded at Youssouf Fofana’s presentation: “The coach is the coach, the club does the rest. The market closes when I say so.”
A few days later Tammy Abraham would arrive in a loan exchange involving Alexis Saelemaekers, who the coach publicly praised and stated that he wanted to keep. Jimenez wants to demonstrate his value, Zlatan pushes to have him play and Fonseca tries Terracciano. As of today, he is Theo’s deputy.
They both need to go, and we need to appoint a manager who can command authority.
#Fonseca&IbraOut
#SarriIn
#LetsStopTalkingAboutThePlayers
The more I think about it the more I’m concerned about the state of the team under Fonseca.
There’s literally no players who know what they’re doing out there.
Every CB bar Gabbia has struggled.
Every FB has struggled (and he’s used about 10).
Fofana is the only midfielder who has a vague idea of what he’s doing, and he’s still leaving the FBs exposed to 2v1s (unless the plan is for the wingers to come back for which they don’t seem to have go the memo).
Theo, Leao and Pulisic are doing their usual individual stuff.
Our strikers don’t seem to know what to do as strikers (but Morata has given a good go in his role as ‘please just run around and help everyone in the team’.)
It’s a mess.
AND we “press” in 4-2-4. One pass and you’re past the first line of 4 players and overwhelming midfield.
I agree. At the tlend of the day it always falls on the manager. If the players have come out and said they don’t know what to do like musah did, it’s the coach’s fault. If the players attitudes are causing problems that’s the coach’s fault. When I used to play anyone acting out of line would be scolded and when Tammy and tomori pulled that stunt they should have been subbed immediately and I would have had words with them the second they came off.
I don’t want anybody to fail, especially when it comes to Milan but fonseca is starting to look like he does one thing good and 5 things bad. After the break, there’s no more time for excuses.
Ibra’s right and Fonseca’s wrong… This guy doesn’t seem to have a clue about defenders or defending. He should’ve demanded Kalulu stay, requested someone else other than Royal, and benched Tomori.
What don’t you understand in “The coach is the coach, the club does the rest. The market closes when I say so”? It’s very, very clear that the coach is just a yes man, his role is to sht the fck up and not ask for anything. Then get fired when the many mistakes from the management can’t allow the coach to thrive. Pioli, Fonseca, (insert next coach’s name).
Nah disagree. If you hire a coach, it’s his players and his requests for players that you’re working under. Otherwise the coach will have a bunch of players not suited to HIS system or style of play. Knowing who the coach wants and what he has planned for the team and where you (Ibra in this case ofc) have to work out well before you hiring him and should be part of the vetting process. That’s on Ibra and co. There can be compromises ofc but at the end of the day it’s his team. This is why I’m not so overbearing on Royal ..it’s literally the coach’s request for a player that plays his style. However I know how that’s going to turn out eventually but as of now we have to accept certain requests.
Also saying something so totally against the coach truly undermines his authority before a game has been played. That was a clear a stfu as I’ve ever seen one. He couldn’t just roll with the punches this one time? Or pull a Galliani…”we’re fine as we are”. We don’t have to show all our cards all the time smh 🤦♂️
The best option for the left back problem is to use either Terraciano or Berthasaghi, Jimenez lacks the physical attributes to be a defender, he should be used as a winger either on the left or right
How about Pavlovic as LB? That way we’re not playing a raw kid or an RB out of position. Bartesaghi is my no. 2 choice, as that’s his natural position.
How about another year zero? But this time, start with the management. Everyone needs to go. Scaroni, Furlani, Zlatan and most of all, Moncada. Then we’ll talk.
Funny u mentioned year zero here andi said we weren’t at year zero anymore when being linked with mediocre players from prem clubs. It’s insane how fast downhill that went from 2 years ago
Considering how many players we brought in the summer 2023 we could consider it as a year 0 I think (if my definition of a year 0 is the same as yours that is)
Yeah please get them out!
Especially Moncada and Ibra as theoretically they are the guys making the football decisions.
I can’t imagine Furlani, a finance guy is picking players, or is he? Scary thought
Scaroni is just a gross fool, nobody knows or cares what he does
Agreed.
Ibra is purely an egomaniac plain and simple. Fantastic if you’re a striker. Unfortunately that’s not his role in the team. U gotta learn fella!
I think Jimenez is better than Royal at RB.
That said, a solution could be to play the defensive A.I.
G-P-T all together
Mister, you don’t listen to God ?
How on earth it could be?
I remind you that you are the head coach !!!
Are you afraid to stand firm in front of Ibra ?
He doesn’t respect you,the boys don’t give a shit on you -at least part of them–this is what you got
If you still have a bit of self respect
leave us and take Ibra with you
You’ll have enough time to decide who could be the Left Full Back deputy of Theo
So you have to decide , right?
Or ,may be you have ,, a plan”?
Hard to believe that someone will respect it.
Terracciano is clueless and atrocious. Jimenez can’t defend his elementary school lunch. Ibra continues to undermine the coach. No wonder the players don’t respect the coach (who, let’s realize, doesn’t help with being respected either).
What a mess!
i think when a manager comes you should listen to the players he would want but i would have never gotten royal like how bad he is if he would want a defensive fullback we could have gone for someone else