Youssouf Fofana shared his thoughts in the mixed zone after Milan’s 1-0 win against Lazio, admitting that he needs to do a better job of getting into the games quicker.
It was certainly a mixed bag from the Frenchman last night. In the first half, he won back the ball a lot but failed to do anything useful in possession. Things improved a little in the second half, when he was involved in the goal, but he also missed a big chance after a great run.
In his post-match interview in the mixed zone (via MilanNews) Fofana couldn’t help but laugh as the journalist said that his first half was slow, as opposed to the second half. The midfielder agreed and stated that he must do better.
Hard-fought three points…
“This is what the fans want. We’ll try to give everything we have on the pitch to win. Especially for our fans.
Would it have been nice to score?
“It would have been nice. I know a lot of people are waiting for me to score. I’m working hard and I hope the goal comes as soon as possible.”
Youssouf #Fofana: “Parliamo di Scudetto a maggio”🔴⚫️
Il centrocampista del #Milan ha parlato della sua prestazione dopo la vittoria per 1-0 contro la Lazio.
🎤 @fraletizia pic.twitter.com/Omp2Djvkjj
— Sportitalia (@tvdellosport) November 29, 2025
In the first half, you started slowly, but in the second, you were everywhere…
“I know! (laughs). The coach tells me that, and I tell myself that too! I take my time to get into the game, but if we concede in the first 15 minutes because I have to get into the rhythm, it’s not good.
“I need to work on that too, but it’s not easy because it’s part of me. I’m like that in normal life too.”
Do you believe in the Scudetto?
“We’ll talk about it in May.”
It’s clear that Massimiliano Allegri believes in the player a lot, giving him the nod from start week in and week out. In terms of stamina and work-rate, he adds a lot to Milan’s game but the end product must improve – soon as well – for him to keep his spot.
“I know a lot of people are waiting for me to score.”
You already scored once buddy.
Please stop trying, we won’t blame you if you don’t score, but please stop trying to shoot all the time.
A lot of fofana haters here, saying bad thing about him.
I don’t hate him. But he is very frustrating in his repeated attempts to score when he is a notoriously poor finisher and there are better options available. Think of that attempt he made in the Derby: he was in front of Sommer who was fully committed to his side; the goal was completely empty to Sommer’s right, where Rafa was sitting pretty, completely unmarked. Fofana just needed to pass the ball to Rafa who would have had a completely empty goal ahead of him, no goalkeeper, no defender, for an easy tap in, and we’d have scored a second goal against Inter. But no, Fofana tried to score himself, and of course he missed.
Fofana would be ten times more helpful to the team if he passed the ball more and did not try so often to score on his own, given his atrocious aim.
It seems like Fofana can place the ball anywhere, except in the back of the net. He shoots wide left, wide right, too high, or weakly at the goalkeeper. He almost never puts it in the net. I think, what, he scored all of two goals in his entire Milan tenure, one of them being in a friendly? Why bother? He is not a goal scorer and shouldn’t try. Just pass it.
Fofana can place some good passes, like the one he passed to Tomori yesterday, who then assisted Rafa for a score. He also recently put Pulisic on a 1 v 1 against the goalkeeper. He can do that. But he CANNOT score!!!
Allegri likes him for his physicality and his ability to recover balls and make some good passes (although he also misses lots of passes; but he does produce some good ones relatively often). However, Allegri should tell Fofana “please don’t try to score. Do what you do well but at the end of your runs, pass the ball.”
With just this modification in expectations and guidance, Fofana could be a really helpful player. The way he has been playing, he is often detrimental to the team, as he wastes offensive plays by shooting completely off-target when he should have passed.
That’s all. That’s not hatred. That’s common sense, and it is pretty obvious. Can’t you see it?
In 95% of situations he had no better choice. You wrote 30 sentences and basic facts aren’t correct. ??
There are articles about how Fofana is bad every week. Not only fans…he did ok this season
lol, my wife and i say that every game “No, please Fofana don’t shoot!”, I mean certainly there are scenarios where he should pull the trigger, but more times than not there is another option, or he is trying to force a shot.
You can almost tell everytime when he gets the ball and he is unmarked and facing the goal that he is going to pull the trigger.
100%. Keep doing what your doing, except shooting!
yes, its really weird when the ball is passed around the box by players who can shoot and in the end most of the time the one player with 0 shooting quality shoots. i already started to believe that its order from the coach (not only Allegri, cause it was the same already before), just to make sure he’s not losing the ball and giving away a counter attack.
So, uh, why not start a different player? One that won’t give the ball away cheaply and can shoot? Say, RLC? Where is Jashari? FFS.
Jashari? When did you see he can shoot? 🤣 Fofana has some nice shots if you watch highlights…
Thank you Fofana, we see that you have the spirit but lack in skill. Just do us a favor and pass to Leao next time
Kicking the ball with your standing leg by mistake is the issue that needs be taken care of during his youth days in the academy, not when he is deep in his 20s and playing on a highest level. I can’t stand Fofana, i don’t think he is the player that can develop much further due to his obvious technical flaws, but i would really love for him to prove me wrong and shut me up. He needs to improve his decision making since that is the most important skill for a defensive midfielder.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thankfully Allegri is a smart coach…The Fofana-Modric-Rabiot combination has Milan at the top of the table.
Yes, but we could be winning these games with less trepidation and less risk, if Fofana only passed the ball more often and did not try to shoot, given how atrocious his aim is.
somebody please tell him he don’t have to always shoot, he need to win, even by not shooting.. assists/ good pass is a great thing to do too..
Allegri should not have stated at the start of the season that he expects 15 goals between RLC and Fofana. That statement was taken as a “license to shoot”. Allegri should take tell him privately that he does not expect any goals from him unless they are from a set-piece. His goal should be to get 7 or 8 assists and forget about the goals.
Fofana is very good at certain things, like crucial tiki-taka in front of op’s goal.