AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has explained his decision to make the changes he did in the second half of the win over Club Brugge, while also claiming Francesco Camarda deserved the goal that was disallowed.
Milan finally got off the mark in the Champions League with a 3-1 victory against Club Brugge, with Tijjani Reijnders scoring a match-winning brace in the second-half with assists from two substitutes in Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze.
Prior to that Christian Pulisic’s Olimpico goal had given the Rossoneri the lead in the first half and Raphael Onyedika’s red card after a VAR review looked like making it a simply evening, until the visitors levelled early in the second half to stun the San Siro crowd.
Francesco Camarda saw a late goal disallowed which would have sealed the game and the record for youngest ever goalscorer in the competition, but Milan will bank the three goals and the three points to get the ball rolling.
Fonseca spoke to Sky after the game to comment on what wasn’t a fully straightforward night for his side but was ultimately three points, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
It was a record-breaking debut for Camarda, and so close to a goal too…
“I think he and the team deserved this moment. I’m sorry for the disallowed goal because it was a very beautiful moment for a young man who deserves to be part of this group and who worked hard to have the opportunity. I was sorry but he will score many goals in the future. Don’t be disappointed, this is just the beginning and he will score a lot.”
What do you think of the performance?
“I think we played a game without intensity, with too slow a circulation and we didn’t understand how to do it against a team that was good at defending low. When Okafor and Chukwueze came in, the game changed, they brought more energy and the team regained intensity. After the second goal we did very good things, before we played without intensity.”
Why did Leao come off?
“There is no specific problem with him. The change is not a punishment, we needed Okafor and Chukwueze. It must be seen as normal, Rafa must see it as normal and work to be able to help the team like all the players.”
With a numerical advantage, wasn’t it possible to attack them a little more?
“Our intention was already there 11 against 11. We have to do better. I think we weren’t aggressive until the second goal. After that, yes, but we have to be a more aggressive team.”
Chukwueze came on and seems to be doing better as a substitute…
“I think we improved with the introduction of Okafor and Chukwueze. But we improved a lot when Pulisic went to play inside, no longer as a winger. Honestly Pulisic as a winger does not have the preponderance that he has when he plays inside and when we changed the team was different.”
Could we see Chukwueze-Pulisic-Okafor from the first minute in the next game?
“Maybe. I’m going to think about it now. I have to say that I haven’t studied Bologna, I’ll study them and we’ll decide who will be the best players to face them.”
Okafor-Puli-Chuk up front will demand a more physical and defensive presence in pivot positions. Fofana cannot do it alone with those three up front with Reijnders roaming as well.
Kudos to Fonseca for subs but we need to understand it was a 10 man Brugge low on fuel chasing two fresh wingers.
One thing is clear. The players that would not be needed next season and where reinforcement and depth will be needed under this coach are becoming known.
👏👏👏 for Fonseca and the decisions he made during today’s game. No one should get a guaranteed spot and anyone can be subbed at any time.
In other news, Juventus luck is running out.
Their results hide how awful football they play. They are outplayed in almost all games this season, but somehow found the wat not to lose.
Stuttgart was running circles around them tonight in Turin.
1 shot on goal for juve , 11 for Stuttgart.
4 shots off target for Juventus, 6 for Stuttgart.
Stuttgart hit the post, got a goal disallowed, missed a penalty and finally scored.
Nice goal by El Bilal Toure. Got our guy Kalulu chasing ghosts out there.
I said before, Juventus plays exactly the same way this season under Motta as they did under Allegri. Very good defensively, awful offensively, even after spending 200+ m, while all Allegri got last season was George Weah bum a*s son.
Hopefully they can hold inter to a draw Sunday.
Leão – Puli – Chuk
Leao? He’s a player🤣
Fonseca should refrain himself from such words like punishment in the public & press, there are other ways to express his point, its not necessary to be so direct while speaking to press he need to learn to be a manager along with tactician that will make him coach
Agreed. We’d all get the point.
Leao does need to see that it is “team first” and improve his attitude. But if there’s a battle of wills going on between them, Fonseca needs to be the bigger man here. He should not say anything that even hints negative.
He made the changes the team needed to win the game. That’s it.