Paulo Fonseca’s start as AC Milan head coach has not gone how he would have hoped, but he will continue to work on his version of the team in view of the resumption after the international break.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that Fonseca needs players that he can count on to build around, and at the moment Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao have not shown themselves to be in the category, but that can and should change.
Instead, the first leader is Alvaro Morata, who will soon come to the rescue. If he does not play against Venezia, a choice possibly dictated by caution due to injury, he will play against Liverpool in the Champions League and then in the derby.
The Champions League is a trophy that the Spaniard won twice with Real Madrid, but without being a protagonist, while if he players against Inter then they will at that point become the opponent he has faced most in his career. Alvaro is ready to bring his goals and his experience.
Emerson Royal is another player that Fonseca intends to count on because he wanted him at Milan and the management got him. He started him over the captain Davide Calabria in the draw with Lazio and Emerson did not reciprocate the confidence with a great performance, far from it.
However, at behest of the coach, he remained more on the defensive and now he is ready to accelerate on the right. He will probably play against Venezia, to regain rhythm, and then hopefully be at 100% for the Liverpool and Inter games.
The rearguard has in the meantime been strengthened with the muscle of Strahinja Pavlovic, who has quickly become irreplaceable. Without him the deficit against Parma could have been even worse and he scored a goal against Lazio too.
Another interesting precedent: Pavlovic has faced Inter twice, and did not buckle against either Lautaro or Thuram. The defensive wall is shaking at the moment, but Pavlovic is the only one who can restore solidity, while waiting for Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia.
The attack found itself with only one survivor with Morata injured, Luka Jovic on the sidelines, Samuel Chukwueze having a decline since preseason and Leao not yet anywhere near his best. The one who has always been present is Christian Pulisic, who said yes to the coach every time.
He was ready to play against Torino as a central attacking midfielder, then on the right against Parma and Lazio. He reciprocated Fonseca’s trust with his willingness to change roles, but also with a goal and an assist. Thus, he will be the leader of the attack until others step up.
