After losing their first two European matches against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan host Club Brugge at San Siro tonight knowing that it is an early must-win game in their campaign.
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) report this morning, Paulo Fonseca announced the starting line-up during his pre-match press conference yesterday – something that was unusual in itself – and it featured both Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao.
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The paper talks about Fonseca using an ‘iron fist’ during the 1-0 win against Udinese on Saturday, with Leao remaining on the bench for 90 minutes. Theo was out due to suspension, otherwise he would have been punished too for his hand in the Fiorentina defeat before the break.
However, Milan need the contribution of ‘Theao’. It is essential for the Rossoneri to immediately find its two strongest and most representative players, while Fonseca and all the fans expect a major reaction from both of them after an up and down start to the season.
“What I expect from Leao and Hernandez is what I expect from everyone. They must do their best to help Milan win,” Fonseca said yesterday. For him there are no longer any untouchables, meaning everyone must earn their place on the pitch, including Theo and Leao.
To win tonight Milan need the right spirit, namely the one seen on Saturday. In that match the Frenchman and the Portuguese were not there, so in a way they must follow the example the others set from a suffering and unity standpoint.
Must we persist with this narrative of pitting coach and players against each other? Can’t we just think ‘great, we won at the weekend with two star players unavailable and rested respectively, hopefully they’re at their peak for this big game a few days later’?
The new UCL format and all the games played these days means we’re going to have to rely on some rotation this season, here’s hoping it works out.
Its impossible. Media cant make money on happy stories now cant they?
Irony aside i agree with you ❤🖤
You can’t ignore all the drama that Fonseca has brought since his arrival; it cannot be fabricated by the press when you see it with your own two eyes. Having Leao warm up and not go in against Udi is the latest example. Every match there’s something else.
There hasn’t been a lot.
Leao and Theo were lazy against Parma, so they were benched next game, they sulked on the sidelines and then they went back to playing normal.
Tomori and Abraham were benched for their behaviour in La Viola game.
Leao was in International Duty, was a bit tired. He probably would have been subbed in if not for the red card.
Let’s not make a mountain out of a hill.
Exactly media just making things bigger and more dramatic than it probably is
The only drama is the one brought on by the media.
This is a normal adjustment period under a new coach. Fonseca is no God’s gift to coaching but I commend him for putting his foot down and making himself heard. It would be wise to see what progress has been made at season’s end.
At the moment they are not our best players. Maignan and Pulisic are.
Both need to improve and show class in different ways. Not only with points but with a solid attitude.