With several of his AC Milan players away on international duty, Paulo Fonseca can not be given messages from his squad in person. However, their performances away from Milanello can be telling, and the Portuguese coach has some things to take note of.
It will not be known until after the Inter game whether the international break came at a good time, and perhaps, you could argue that we will know before then.
As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, Fonseca has been given test results from experiments he has not tried competitively, and there are notes on certain subjects. Notes which he must examine, and perhaps put into practice at Milan.
Tijjani Reijnders started as a Trequartista for the Netherlands, and Gazzetta states that Fonseca may have to release him from his shackles and move him there for the Rossoneri. Youssouf Fofana can now protect him, so allowing him to advance will only benefit the squad. The midfielder scored, and ‘sees the goal more’. Additionally, with him struggling at times defensively, a move could be the best thing for all parties.
In the good books with the French National team is Mike Maignan. Following their 3-1 defeat to Italy, the goalkeeper ‘attacked’ his teammates in the locker room for their ‘limited’ commitment. Within two years of becoming a starter for Les Bleus, he has become a leader, and, logically, he will soon become one of the captains back home.
France’s game also showed that Youssouf Fofana needs some extra time before he is a consistent starter. With three pivotal games approaching, his minutes will have to be watched closely. There are several risks attached to overworking players, which cannot happen in Fofana’s case.
Last week, the talk of the town was Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez. This week, it is the same. However, for a different reason, a positive one. It seems that both will return to Milanello with the view of starting the game against Venezia. A perfect chance to start – or restart – their seasons.