Following the crucial win against Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, Paulo Fonseca spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on what went right tonight. Naturally, he was quite relieved and also pleased with how his players responded.
After the 1-3 defeat against Liverpool, few could have predicted the outcome of tonight’s derby. Matteo Gabbia scored the winner late on, earning himself the MOTM award, but the Rossoneri could have sealed the deal earlier with multiple good chances.
Speaking to DAZN after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Fonseca shared his thoughts on what Milan got right tonight. He also explained that Alvaro Morata had a much deeper role than some perhaps thought, not playing as a conventional striker tonight.
The victory of courage…
“It was an important match. First because it was the derby that Milan hadn’t won for a long time. It was also important for the moment we were going through, but I think the players played with a lot of courage and I think we deserved to win. I don’t remember a team in recent times that created as many problems for Inter as we did.”
Team victory and the right attitude. Where did the idea to play this way come from?
“We didn’t change, we played with the same structure. What we did was create something different, that is, to go with Fofana among the central defenders, if we have some difficulty. For the rest, it was the same, the same structure. Only the players changed, Morata played the same role that Tijji had against Liverpool but the formation didn’t change.”
On Morata’s position…
“Morata played the same role that Tijji had played in the other matches. They are different players because Morata gets forward more easily, but the role and the structure are the same. The closeness with Abraham was important, he did a great job, but the structure was the same.”
Are you happy that you won’t be questioned for at least a week?
“It’s the same for me. I don’t hear, I don’t look, I don’t see anything. It will be a week with a little more confidence but for me what is important is to continue to see the players believe in our ideas and work as they have done so far. Today was a victory for the players.”
Will you bring us pastel de nata?
“When I have the opportunity, you will have pastel de nata. For everyone, even for Boban.”
Milan will be up against Lecce next and that game is scheduled for Friday. It will also be played at San Siro, seeing as Inter were the designated home side tonight, and then a trip to Germany is on the cards (to face Bayer Leverkusen).
I’ll give it to him. He’s not stubborn. He’s more flexible. More open. But am I convinced? No. I need to see a lot more. I need to see consistency.
And again with this site telling me I’m posting comments too quick lol.
Yes it’s the same formation.
But our defence play was same like Liverpools . 4 in attack and 2 in midfield.
This make huge space on Inter Flanks and thats goes partly luck for us. Dimarco was big threat and Inter, figured too late to put pressure on our flanks. Ok, Theo and Royal did good job in back.
‘We just did something a little different, which was that if we have difficulties, then Fofana can go between the central defenders in protection.’
This is what I paid attention too as well in this match. And who knows that might be just the key. Just like Kessie who often go deep in line with the CB.
Acmilan problem is Rafael leao let chukwueze be playing Rafael leao wing then leao can enter second half while Okafor will play pulisic wing then rejnder will play attacking midfield so pulisic will play from bench not everyone will start pulisic it will lead to fatigue
On his worst day Chuk can’t lace Leaos boots. Chuk is terrible off the ball. At least with Leao you might get two or three moments of magic in a game.
Yeah leao can drawn defenders to him, like lautaro and haaland.
It was a good match , the honestly we need to ditch the 4231, we need to use a 4321 or 4312, we need to have a balanced midfield, then a very physical and lethal attack, that way both the defence and midfield are covered, Leao will be very effective in the 2 man attack , and honestly he and Abraham would be awesome, with Pulisic behind them, then we could also have another 3 man attack with Morata, Jovic and Okafor, with a midfield 3vbehind them.
We won because RLC was not starting, RLC is important but should always start from bench. Try to play liberali, we had dynamic preseason mainly because of him.
It is not just Ruben Loftus.
Small team played defensively a lot. Inter played the same. And Milan now with Morata had one more striker who played Ruben Loftus position before. Reijnders and Fofana played midfield. So with this changes, all Milan players gave much more pressure and run compared to other games.
Fonseca must rotate because same players can’t play like this all games. There are so many games untill end of the season.
Case in point, it is possible that Inter expanded themselves more from a depth point of view Vs City than we did vd Liverpool. Morata and Abraham split duities. Di Marco had a knock as well and was doubtful for this game.
Everyone crapped on Pioli for not rotating, I’m sorry, Jovic and Giroud were and are snails. They made the rest of the team have to work WAY harder. Fonseca at least kept himself an ace in his sleeve by resting Morata. Rotating Loftus who didn’t play great and seemd out of his depth. He gave Gabbia a start. He is making tough calls Pioli could have made but with the squad at hand would not have had the same result capability or performance wise by making changes.
Maignan made HUGE saves too. Last year he wasn’t always making the crucial saves. Fonseca is also inheriting a deeper team. I am still convinced we need another striker. I don’t see Jovic as a viable alternative, he isn’t quick enough nor is his arial game superb enough. Okafor is great when he can have space, not so much in tight either.
This was a beautiful performance, I think Inter’s team was more fatigued as well.
Regardless, a well deserved and needed win.
We have more options this year, the squad still needs a RB and Striker for 3 competitions.
been saying that for a long time. liberali should be playing attacking midfielder, he did well in preseason and he is strong and looks ready…RLC is a bench player….
Agreed. RLC on a day he wants to impose himself is a force to be reckoned with, but you can get 50 minutes out of him max and he doesn’t have the technical skill or vision to play AM againstsolid, mobile teams. He could have as a youth player when he had a huge speed and strength advantage over opponents, not against this caliber of defences. He can be good, but doesn’t seem to have that willingness or on switch that can stay engaged. He seems to drift out of form..
A bit of luck but bravery paid off – time for people to get on board for a few months and actually support him. Liverpool and Inter are both in a much better position in terms of current squad stability, togetherness and experience and we caused both problems but have some shortcomings.
Expecting Fonseca to fix those overnight is nonsense, especially when the higher management seems determined to avoid defensive midfield roles. People also shouldn’t expect miracles against Leverkusen, just cheer the team if they work hard for the shirt and each other.
We had weaknesses today, in some of the usual areas, but they need to be allowed time to bond and work together as a team. Fingers crossed the ultras can back off a bit and let them do so.
Uh….no
Fonseca Out
It’s not players believe in Fonseca ideas but Fonseca believed in players strength and adapted tactics.
We cannot Play ball possession system like city it’s impossible. Fastest winger’s should be used for counter’s not for tiki taka.
Anyway atleast we continue this system,morata is not 9but not excellent at 10 too. It’s like morata over rlc is choosing less bad than worse. Same goes to Emerson.
Still the space problem on right wing is not resolved.
Still we won, Forza Milan
Gabbia turns Giroud today,loved the moment like before.
This is our style,this is our system don’t change much.
Well done to the coach and team. The coach deserves credit too. News paper’s should shut up and allow Fonseca work.
Not pairing Tij and RLC is the best thing. Reijnders is not a double pivot player. He’s an solo orchestrator like he did on Netherland. Good job Mr Fonseca
Credit to Mr. Fonseca…keep it up, and try consistent mister.
But I see, that Fonseca is want to adapt, this is not we see from Pioli before.
Put two strikers, are always better for team like Milan. Even we have players like Leao and Theo, but we can not hang on them always like Pioli did before.
We must optimize Pulisic, Morata, Abraham, and hope players like Chuk, Okafor and Jovic will be challenge for step up.
Pioli era, just put player as his origins, not make them grow and learn new role. That is why we always see, Pioli got stuck.
Where is Bartolomeu?
Saying the owners are cheap or incompetent only works when the team loses.
🔫🔫🔫
Congrats to the Rossoneri.🍾🥂🎉
One victory hopefully to the road of recovery.
Milan are under construction by Signor Fonseca, therefore we can hardly comment.🤫🥴
Anyone wishes Hansi Flick was our contractor 🤣🤣.
Calm down ther big fella. Good win yes. Derbies are always a different beast. Actually out a couple wins together first and let’s go from there
True, the team has to keep this form.
But for all the criticism we got, we’re 2 points from Juventus, 1 point from Napoli and on even terms with Inter. So our bad start looks more like everyone else’ start. We’re still in this season and hopefully we can fight for the scudetto.
We’re also top of the goals, xG and xPts charts, which shows the the chances are being made, just not being taken. Obviously we need to be better defensively, especially against counters, before we can actually challenge for much (and even hope for top 4).
But hopefully this means the stupid overreactions can calm down for a couple of weeks at least, let the team work and see how we’re doing next international break.
The players believed in his ideas except Leao, who walked most of the game and many times go the ball only to immediately pass it back. Please sell in the summer and use the money for a DM (finally) and a replacement that is a Pulisic clone.
“We didn’t change, we played with the same structure. What we did was create something different, that is, to go with Fofana among the central defenders, if we have some difficulty. For the rest, it was the same, the same structure. Only the players changed, Morata played the same role that Tijji had against Liverpool but the formation didn’t change.” highlights the need for a proper am. If liberali won’t play than 1 am must be bought in the winter. Says a lot when morata can be a better am than our curremt midfilders. Kudos to fonseca for trying that. Als, i take it as a signal to management that its the same structure just a better am.