Roberto Donadoni was expecting a reaction from Napoli after a poor season, and he believes they will face an AC Milan side tonight who are still a work in progress.
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Milan will look to make an early-season statement on Tuesday night when they welcome the league leaders Napoli to San Siro. Antonio Conte’s side have won every game since their 3-0 opening day defeat to Verona, barring a 0-0 draw with Juventus.
Paulo Fonseca admitted in his pre-match press conference that they would have liked the Bologna game to have been played at the weekend, because of the suspensions that Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders must serve.
The coach insisted that the Scudetto remains the target for the season but Milan must add another scalp to their list after the derby win over Inter if they are to assert themselves as serious contenders.
Donadoni spoke during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that was published this morning, previewing what promises to be another entertaining San Siro clash.
Did you expect that on matchday ten Napoli would face Milan with a four-point advantage over second-placed Inter?
“After a complicated season like last year, it was fair to expect a reaction. Especially after Conte’s arrival on the bench. Napoli are struggling to play fluid football, but they are also ahead of teams that were considered super favourites.
“If the Azzurri get certain results despite not playing well, when they grow it will be even more difficult for the others to face them.”
Paulo Fonseca is behind Antonio Conte in his work…
“For various reasons, the Rossoneri have not found their dimension. I thought that the success in the derby would have relaunched them and instead… Allow me to add one thing.
“Conte’s hand in Napoli is evident because he has transmitted conviction and compactness to the group, but Fonseca has also made courageous choices.
“Against Udinese for example he had many absentees, but he benched Leao and for half an hour Milan dominated. Before defending with heart. The group is with him.”
What game are you expecting tonight?
“Intense, beautiful and balanced. It will say a lot about the future of the two teams.”
Napoli are coming off five wins in a row…
“The last two 1-0 wins against Empoli and Lecce were hard-fought. They also had a bit of luck, but these results were not coincidental: Napoli are confident and feel they are strong. Now they will have to confirm themselves against the big teams they will face in the coming weeks.”
Are the Azzurri the favourites for the Scudetto?
“They are top, but I don’t see a team capable of opening up a significant gap, of breaking away. Inter still have the advantage for me: they are more tested and have changed less than the others.”
Can Milan stay in the race until the end?
“I sincerely hope so for the good of the league. The Rossoneri are not far away from making the definitive leap in quality, but when you take on a new coach, a little patience to assimilate his football is necessary.”
Milan don’t have Alvaro Morata and Rafael Leao at their best…
“Morata hasn’t scored much, but he gives a big hand to the team by participating in the maneuver and creating spaces. I would never give up on someone like that.
“For Leao, the story is different: he is showing problems that he had already shown in the past. Until he has continuity of performance, it is useless to discuss his potential and when he will be able to express it.”
Does it not surprise you, then, that Leao is no longer immovable?
“It’s not that Fonseca is giving up on him. It’s Leao who is giving up… on himself.”
When you think back to the years of triumphs at Milan, what comes to mind?
“I get emotional when I see my teammates from so many successes. Milan was an exceptional club: Berlusconi and Galliani made the difference.”