Paulo Fonseca Milan

Fonseca reflects on ‘step backwards’ and exposes defenders: “69% of the aerial duels”

Photo by AC Milan

After the 3-3 draw between AC Milan and Cagliari, Paulo Fonseca spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on what went wrong for his side. Defensively, it was nowhere near good enough by the Rossoneri. 

Milan conceded three goals that certainly were avoidable in tonight’s clash, thus cancelling out the wonderful work by Rafael Leao in attack. And so, as Fonseca had predicted, the game ended up being a lot more difficult than the Real Madrid encounter.

Speaking to DAZN after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Fonseca stated that Milan lacked ‘aggression’ as Cagliari managed to win far too many aerial duels. Furthermore, he commented on Theo Hernandez who was named the worst in our player ratings.

Milan suffered too much on the crosses…

“Our problems today were not attacking ones, but defensive. We had great difficulties on Cagliari’s crosses, lacking aggression at the right moment, and then it’s just not possible to win a match against a team that only crosses. Even with a five-man line we lost the aerial duels, we lost 69% of the aerial duels. Difficulties on direct play and on crosses.”

A step back in what way?

“Especially the result. In attack we did good things. We scored three goals here, we can’t tie the game. It’s a step backwards, we can’t concede three goals if we want to win.”

Is Milan’s future with a 3-man midfield?

“We always play with a three-man midfield. Today we played with Tijji, Fofana and Chris. That wasn’t the problem. The problem is how we suffered, we conceded a first goal that we can’t concede. It’s true that he was offside, but we can’t concede it. The second is crazy… This is a team that always crosses, we weren’t very aggressive with individuals, not as a department.”

Theo’s performance…

“He can do better defensively. We are working to correct things that are important. But the entire defensive line can do better in aerial duels and aggression. Everyone can do better.”

On Leao…

“He’s in a good moment, he’s also coming back defensively. He’s always been with the team, this is the Leao we want, he’s a decisive Leao.”

On Camarda…

“It wasn’t easy. He did well with what he had. I’m happy with his performance.”

It was two important points dropped in the Scudetto race, and it’s clear that Milan will find it very difficult to challenge the top teams this season. They simply cannot afford the inconsistency as you need to collect points week in and week out.

Tags AC Milan Cagliari Paulo Fonseca

24 Comments

  1. Pioli 2.0
    Big win in champions against BIG club
    BIG LOSS to small cleb in league
    🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

    1. Please don’t insult Pioli. He won the title with the fourth (at best) squad in Serie A and referees, constantly favoring Inter that year. Fonseca is incapable of achieving anything close to that.

      1. Agree. I loved Pioli. Second place and gets fired. No CL. Hernandez should play midfield. All goals came from the left. He never defends.

  2. Now tell me who how it is possible and what to think about Fonseca… he win against Real and then lost points against 17th Cagliari.. how it is possible and whom fault is this.
    It is grat Leao is back and he play really great game, maybe better then in Madrid, but our Defence…
    Is there a chance for CL for next season? Because I think we are out and we will be happy if we play Konference League…

  3. this managment has a mediocre mindset get top 4 and they are happy curently we are 7th i belive and yes not every result is fonseca fault every lose will add more pressure to him if he dosent get top 4 next season we should sack him

    1. I think it is 100% if we doesn’t finish in top 4 he goes.. but questions if they will wait until the end of the season. And now if Atalanta, Fiore and Lazio win we are 8 points behind CL and maybe 10p behind 1th..

  4. Hopefully someday Klopp will come and become our coach…someday.

    Or hire Gasperini…he is good coach. The Italian coach who can defeated Liverpool at Klopp era. And he can remotivated unused players such as De Ketelaere

  5. It is this kind of games that show between having Boungiorno or Calafiori instead of Emerson Flop and Pavlovic that cost 35 million. With either Calafiori or Boungiorno and kept Kalulu we would win 3-0

    1. This is moneyball strategy. Buy cheap young experience player, max 20 million.

      Pav and emerson flop have many experience. Champion league, primier league, la liga.

      Moneyball strike again. Management make great signing.

  6. Od kada je KJER otišao naša obrana ne vrijedi ništa !! Fonseka nije autoritet za Milan jer igraći igraju kad hoće a kad neče onda se uglavnom dodavaju unazad. Ne može ih MOTIVIRAT da grizu svaku utakmicu !! i zato mora otiči – samo je pitanje vremena kada.

  7. let’s back to reality. with this manager more progress is not possible. I know that players and coach want all the best for team, but sometimes you have to accept that in this shape/tactic/organisation of the pley they could not make more progress.
    .
    I think that Maurizio Sarri is only authentic personality who could make progress with all of these mercenaries.

  8. Nobody’s talkiing about that high defensive line, and the fact the every long ball from Calgiari practically rsilted in a chance?

  9. If Milan does not make the Champions League next year, they will not only lose Champions League money, but possibly lose up to three key players. So much for buying cheap and hoping for the best!

    1. And that is the much needed wake up call.
      Milan is never making top 4 with fonseca.

      With draws, losses & a scrappy win against 4 weaker/regular clubs then a fluke (win) against big clubs (Inter, Madrid, etc); a miracle will be needed to finish in 8th position.
      Fonseca was totally clueless, Just look at the league table.
      Fonseca is a fluke at best

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