AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca was not happy with the officiating display in the defeat against Atalanta tonight, launching into a rant against them.
Milan’s title hopes were virtually ended and their top four ambitious were thrust into serious doubt as they lost against Atalanta 2-1 at the Gewiss Stadium on Friday night.
Charles De Ketelaere scored against his former club with a header at the back post to make it 1-0, but Alvaro Morata equalised when he converted a ball across the box by Rafael Leao.
It looked like drifting out for a draw, but then Ademola Lookman was on hand a couple of minutes from the end of the 90 to convert a corner that was flicked on at the near post and net the winner.
Fonseca spoke to Sky at the end of the game to asses what was another big blow for his side, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.
A good first half, then a different second half. Were Atalanta too much for you?
“In the second half we missed getting to the players in front. We had the ball but unlike the first half we didn’t get it to Rafa and Morata. In the end we lost because of two set pieces. I think we played a great game in the first half and in the second half we missed the connection with the attack.”
How do Milan emerge from this?
“It’s difficult when the game ends and you concede two goals from set pieces. I also want to say that I’ve been quiet and never talked about the referees: everyone talks and they’re right. The first goal is a foul, of course. There’s no doubt about it.
“The way the referee led the game, [it was] against Milan there’s no doubt about it and it’s not just from today. I know that the referees have a difficult job. Now I’ll just show what happened. Against Milan it’s always the same, there’s no respect for Milan at this moment.
“I’m not afraid to tell the truth, like today. I’ve always respected the referees’ work, but there are so many mistakes and every week, always against the same ones. The way the referee refereed today is a lack of respect for Milan.”
Can you elaborate?
“In a situation like this, the game changes, the match starts with us going behind from a goal that is not legal. Today I am disgusted by this situation: every week there are so many mistakes.
“This referee was here to do the VAR against Udinese and we can see what happened against Udinese: I was afraid of this referee for this match and he started well…”
And the excuse list just keeps going. We lost because you’re a coward and an imbecile. End of. Get lost and take Emerson and RLC with you
Pathetic excuse from a coach. You cant lead a full. One half will not cut it for you. You are fare behind you and still play as its the start of the season.
Wake up! We are behind in all competitions, inconsistency is clear.
Milan needs top coach and who can bring everything out from these players. Milan must chang to invest on top coaches and be brave.
Well said.. those clowns that call themselves management don’t even have the balls to complain about it.. This has been the issue since Pioli’s era.. Refs are quick to consult the VAR if the condition is in favor of Milan. We re all aware of what is going on.
The refereeing against Milan has been an issue dating back to the Berlusconi era.
Back then we had a stacked team that could overcome these handicaps, but now our team is barely able to compete on the same level against these teams, the refereeing against Milan really hurts them.
He is rotating between blaming the players and blaming the refs.
He loves a good rotation 😂😂😂
True to form
The first goal for Atalanta was 100% illegal. There is zero doubt about it, and it is a disgrace that the referee didn’t call it an offensive foul, and VAR didn’t correct him. Fonseca is absolutely right about it.
This said, it seems like Fonseca instructed the players to try to hold the draw and waste time, instead of trying to win, which is cowardly and the same mistake he made against Juventus, so, that’s on him.
Also, Fonseca complains that we lost on two set pieces. True, but then, as a former defender as a player, shouldn’t we expect that Fonseca by now would have trained his players in better defending against crosses and corner kicks? The vast majority of the goals we conceded this season were like this, so the head coach should not be complaining, but should actually be fixing it.
Finally, Fonseca was the one who wanted Emerson, and he’s the one who keeps playing RLC. Emerson although today he had a rarely good performance for a while, miserably failed in their second goal, directing causing the defeat. Also, maybe Chuk should have been brought in for Pulisic when he got injured, as he probably would have kept Milan more lively than the slow RLC.
He literally blamed the players for not following his set-piece instructions against Liverpool. Do we need to say more?
I think Moncada wanted Emerson. He’s the Moncada profile.
No that was a foul sorry
Hands to push in the back
That’s a clear foul sorry
I was spewing
Foul or not? Well… Let’s put it this way: Theo diving and being a dramaqueen 5 times in a match doesn’t help. If he toned down his acting the refs might whistle. It was a soft foul – but still a foul – but since the “victim” was Theo the refs let it slide.
Good thing he saved his subs for next game.
Take responsibility – go home.
What are you talking about???? I am ashamed to be ACM fan with you as coach!! Absolutely deserved to lose, be a man and quit
we lost connection with the attack as we subbed on RLC instead of dropping down Morata and then putting Tammy up in the striker role. Losing Pulisic was detrimental as he both offer a lot of work in both ends of the game but also contribute with his movement, RLC off strength but not the same sort of mobility.
Sure the ref made some mistakes and I was also fuming here and there but that was basically just for not giving more cards to either side for pushing eachother in the back.
First goal a foul ? look at theo how he falls it looks like a freaking dive or an overreaction where he instead should have stand tall and fought to the end, Had it gone to a VAR decision then Im fairly confident to say that it would still have stood so if anything the frenchman jeoparized our start,
Second goal was Royal watching football or particpating. Why the hell did he not guard the post in his side !
Anyways a draw or a loss would be a loss in itself either way.
Fonseca lost all stronger games this season.
2 in UCL. All in Serie a plus games against Parma and draws Torino- Cagliari.
Fonseca – dead man walking.
Lol if anything the ref favorized us a bit. Bunch of fouls were given to us which were non existent and could have lead to counters for Atalanta. In general the ref wasn’t the problem in this game.
We didn’t create nothing, one counter for the goal and that was about it.
Agree
The refs didn’t make us lose this game. It was 100% on Theo & Emerson. And the rest of the players didn’t do much either to get the point(s).
Ridiculous over reaction from Fonseca.
Clutching at straws.
I disagree that the CDK goal was a foul.
He was taller, stronger, jumped earlier and Theo just flopped when he felt himself getting beaten.
Maybe there was decent contact but CDK did not move into him. He jumped straight up and then protected the space he earned.
Theo is always faking and exaggerating contact. So even if it was a foul, then it is his reputation that cost him.
Emerson was also grossly exaggerating any contact from other players.
Embarrassing.
Theo could have prevented the goal but decided to dive from the contact. He could have stood up and nodded the ball away but chose the easy way out. Again. He’s not doing any favors to himself or the team with his constant diving and acting. The refs have had enough. Clearly.
“Emerson was also grossly exaggerating any contact from other players.
Embarrassing.”
Embarrassing is indeed the right word to describe him. Clumsy first touch, ball goes out of play and then comes the dive. Embarrassing AND infuriating.
That was on you coach. You preach about playing dominant football but no one is seeing that. And I don’t understand why your playing with 2 RBs. God. It’s like playing with a man less regardless both RBs playing well, as a player is missing elsewhere on the pitch for you. Btw Musah is a mid, not a guy that just dropped down without a role to be thrown around on the wings and goal.
I really don’t know what Musah is or supposed to be but give him the ball and it will end up in the opponents possession. And to team him up with the worst RB in the league. Yeah, our right flank is the scariest flank in the whole world. For us though.
Have not yet seen de ketelaere’s headed goal but reading that theo was involved and that he lost the tussle for the ball which cdk scored, then i am 100% sure that theo was playacting as usual. Whenever he loses the ball in a tackle he drops for dead and stays on the ground feigning injury!!!!!
Standard joke with friends watching milan game before it starts is placing bets how many times theo will fall to the ground during game after losing the ball. The last one to win guessed correctly SEVEN times!!!!
Theo is really challenging Morata for the “Diver of the Year” award. And that’s a lot to say about anyone.
14 games and only 6 wins the management must be jumping for joy since they have turned a Scudetto winning team into a mid table team in just 2 years! What more can be said?
Emerson Royal is Rubbish ,RLC is bullshit I dont knw why the management will open their eyes and buy nonsense.
Pioli out pioli out and now? Fonseca in,atlist pioli is bad but drive d team toward scudeto,an now Fonseca is driving d team toward reegation
Its simple we sucks,we not deserve nothing. we have luck against Atalanta. Real score will be 5:1.
We dont have anything exept club name. Half team is disaster,about coach is joke talk at all. How some can lead Milan if come from Lille,so we club for midle table.
When we bring top coach we will play top and that is.
Milan would have got some one better. Milan is playing with no system no game plan…when a team who plays for draws from start what would u expect….we won’t even get the 4th place if this donkey isn’t changed….he conquered the world by beating real madrid and inter this season…he should get that pasted on his cv….for heavensake he is coaching a big Club milan giving excuses like we had a day light robbery….