AC Milan fans had plenty to say after another disappointing result in Serie A for Paulo Fonseca’s side, and a report has suggested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic took to the dressing room after the game.
Playing for Milan brings a level of expectation, and so far, the level has fallen far below this. An opening day draw could be excused with signs of positivity against a newly promoted Parma side who have been absent from the division for four seasons. However, this was not the case.
Instead, the Rossoneri were humiliated as they lost 2-1, and questions are already in place about Fonseca and his ability to lead the squad forward.
Words of motivation
As Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, Ibrahimovic took to the dressing room and spoke his mind about the result and the squad listened. Whilst this is no new thing, it was different in many ways. Instead of shouts of frustration, there were words of clarity and motivation.
‘The quality is there, the team is in fact complete, now you have to be motivated,’ said the Swede, and whilst there are, perhaps, improvements still to be made, the team is near a finished article, but it did not show on Saturday.
Honest words
The paper continues, recalling how Ibra has previously turned tables for the good – that memorable video after winning the Scudetto – and hopefully, this talk can do the same thing. His words this time were blunt and honest, and more importantly, a repetition of his public thoughts.
Milan had issues tactically, and defensively, and above all, there was a lack of Rossoneri spirit and attitude. There were no signs of a side that wanted to fight together, play together, win together, and the squad were made aware of this if they were not already.
Moving forward as a team
Arguably, the lack of Rossoneri spirit is the biggest issue. A side who are not willing to sacrifice things for each other is not a team, it is individuals in a team, something which does not work. After all, 11 men running their own race will not progress in the same way that 11 unified men will.
Players must remember they must run together, for each other, and there were several who forgot this. Talent only gets you so far, but it does nothing if wasted, and this was the reminder that Ibrahimovic gave.
In the games to come, the Diavolo must do more, and be more. If they don’t, things could change.
He has nothing to do in dressing room. Does Fonseca goes on his meetings with Cardinale?
Maybe he has? Who are you to judge how Milan operate? Not everything has to be the same in every club at every given time. He is not just there as a director but also a former player and even a friend in some sense.
Maldini had a similar role in that he was close to the team which was accepted and appreciated by the players. Why wouldn’t Zlatan be able to do the same?
The difference was Maldini worked for Milan. Ibra works for Red Bird!
You see, its not about being Maldini funboy, but its about Milan missing Malidini’s presence on day to day basis. For example, imagine the conversation he would have with Theo after Parma game. Now, two games in a new season and the body language of the team is a horror show.
Agree , also Leao feels betrayed after sacking maldini,the guy doesnt smile since then ,they used maldini to renew his contract and fired him a day after. That’s what you get when snakes menage the club,toxic atmosphere.
“the guy doesnt smile since then” … LMAO!!!
Stop with the Maldini nonsense please. It’s embarrassing. “Leao hasn’t smiled since Maldini left”. I don’t think I’ve ever read a less true statement in my life.
DO you know Maldini was going to cure cancer but the evil American owners made him stop.
If Maldini were here he would fly around the earth counterclockwise like Superman and reverse time so we could go back and win that game on Saturday..
“Leao feels betrayed after sacking maldini,the guy doesnt smile since then”
Did he personally confide that with you? 😀 😀 😀 😀
You are so f’ng ridiculous. If he hasn’t smiled since? He has had opportunities to leave so why hasn’t he? Why stay if so miserable?
Just STFU, under Maldini, we also finished 5th… It was our worst season since Pioli took over. The issue is what football has turned to, players see themselves as alpha and omega of a team because of their big pay.. other teams experience this thing too like Man Utd PSG and Chelsea.
The attitude of Leao and Theo to name a few towards playing for us these days should be the most questionable one. Even Berlusconi’s presence everyday at milanello won’t still solve anything. They need to play as if they want personal achievement even on an individual level.
You make no sense at all. Being rude does not validate your point. Yoyr United, PSG, and Chelsea comparisons are off. Not the same thing at all.
Another Maldini fan using paracetamol on someone’s headache?
Totally agree. I’ve had enough of these Maldini fanboys. Smh
And you are a cardinale fanboy.. Go play fifa
Leao is currently the only one on “big pay” as Theo still makes considerably less. But this isn’t the issue.
They haven’t bought into Fonseca’s system yet. It’s evident from how disjointed they both look on the field. Making the same money last season, both of them looked better under Pioli.
if anything, this seems like a bad hangover from Pioli days.
First of all, I think you know this but anyway… Football is a team sport and 99.9 procent of personal achievements go to the individuals playing for the best team. Second, under Maldini we finished 4th (Juve played 98% of the season with point deduction, and somehow media made it like they were deducted points a minute before midnight), and 4th in CL. What was a minute before midnight, was the Maldini extension and unlocking the transfer in the beginning of the same season.
Maldini fanboy is more or less every 30+ year old Milan fun, and is funny how this is used in an offensive manner.
Finally, its not about Maldini, its about Milan not heaving a great statue on the field or off the field. And just few years ago they had Maldini off and Ibra on the field.
Leao is our only treat and I can not see anything wrong with his performance, especially with Parma. People all of a sudden are all around him while there was absolutely nothing seen from the right wing or from the CF or from the number 10 in the two matches. Pulisic a disaster (every touch with the ball and you get the feeling the attack is doomed), Jovic, Okafor, useless RLC.
Finally Fonseca, you will never get any respect from the players when they see their positions occupied by players outside their position plus with bad displays. He did this with Saladmaker, followed by Okafor for Jovic.
You sir are a joke. The reason we finished 5th is bc the new owners didn’t support him. If you looked at any of the interviews, Cardinale literally said he decided to do nothing in his first year. He literally admitted this. So with zero help, maldini got 5th but also got the the semis of ucl. So you need to stfu.
Zlatan in the locker room: “First guys I would like to thank Redbird. Second, we have to win because I said so. You’re embarrassing the traditional gray/green/pink colors of Milan. Musah, please turn into Xavi by tomorrow. Not tomorrow actually, you have an interview with Jimmy Fallon, but the day after tomorrow. Théo, I said that you’re happy so be happy right now. Also, did I say thanks Redbird?”
😂
Don’t give up your day job 😉
(by the way, what do you do?)
Formerly reporter, now in PR and private and public communication. It’s a job with many opportunities, just watch Milan, Redbird or Sala 🙂
Bart again making excuses for professional players making millions and not running to get back on defense, just so he can blame management. Of course it’s Zlatan’s fault that Theo jogged back on both goals. It’s so funny that everyone gave Zlatan credit for turning this team around when Maldini signed him but now that he’s management now he’s the problem with everything.
Well anyone who picked Fonseca is the problem. Literally anyone that said yes to him. The guy was never good, got lucky 1 season at Lille. Before that? After? I think 0.
Two matches aren’t enough to give the final verdict though. Pioli didn’t win first 2 either but Fonseca has already beaten Real, ManCity & Barca though.
You mean in practice matches which means absolutely nothing! Stop drinking the water to much fluoride!
Did you watch the practice matches? The players on the pitch showed the right attitude. The attitude that wins matches. Not the primadonna-diva attitude from the last Serie A matches.
AGREE 100 PERCENT WITH ” K “
Yeah. People like to b*tch and whine and Fonseca, Zlatan, Furlani & Cardinale are the easiest of targets.
For anyone thinking zlatan talking can be compared to maldini needs to be evaluated. Zlatan has had a good career winning nothing but league titles. If his personality wasn’t crazy he would just be a normal player ppl remember. Maldini presence is missing and it shows
It’s just an ordinary thing if it was banter era.
Fonseca should have kicked him out. Pretending to be Lion in front of the team but in fact he is just Cardinale’s Chihuahua.
The problem we have are two things. One is tactics. They players are confused. Almost all our players came back later plus the new arrivals. The second is lack of fighting spirit. Some are feeling too big for the team, Theo and Leao. There’s no fighting spirit. They just sit and lazy about. I have faith in the coach, but I have zero faith in our players. I feel they’re not playing for the coach. It’s as if they’re playing for him to be sacked.
Yes but if there is no improvement players get frustrated. Do you think Leao and Theo haven’t had enough of only the left side creating chances, after 4 years of that? That the management couldn’t sort out a much better team around them? I know anyone normal would be frustrated. Vinicius Junior wouldn’t have 50 goal contributions per season in this team. Maybe not even half.
“Do you think Leao and Theo haven’t had enough of only the left side creating chances, after 4 years of that? That the management couldn’t sort out a much better team around them? I know anyone normal would be frustrated.”
It seems you missed the last season completely as Pulisic had almost as many contributions on the RW as Leao on the left. But that would hurt your narrative, right? 🙂
Plus Florenzi probably had more contributions on the right than Theo (with fraction of Theo’s minutes).
Torino had a new coach too. Still they played as a team and dominated us for almost full 90 minutes. Attitude can make up soooooo much. Even poor tactics. Or non-existing (like when Milan won the scudetto – it was all about attitude and team spirit).
That big mouth thinks he is the boss and will try to do the manager’s job all he do is disrespect
The problem is a lack of Italians and there’s been a massive player turnover over the past 2 seasons.
Firstly the coach is poor, secondly Theo isn’t playing well that’s due to management situation and contract situation, thirdly Calabria is looking at the exit door n is contract is almost over, no true expression of winning randomly, players should be happy else expect the worst.
Pressure on Fonseca yes but the pressure should be on Zlatan and our clownshow front office.
Quality is there? Squad is complete?
There is quantity. Squad is overflowing.
Now, doesn’t that feel better.
We are fans not comptrollers. Everyone see the same things on the pitch except Zlatan, Foolani, and My Name is Geoff?
They should be fired for getting Fonseca. That was my first opinion of Fonseca. Lopetegui is a dr. of football for him. We got the worse option after fans complained. People expected a proper coach, De Zerbi, Motta or someone similar, with a clear idea how to play and all. Fonseca has no clue, he never did. Got lucky 1 season, before that crap.
He should took Theo to the gym to improve his fitness level.
The team needs a bunker mentality now, Them against the world. Prove the haters wrong. The talent is here.
Target, Lazio. Forza Milan
Ivan antony up from
Leao guler chuks
Fofana Tijini Kone
Theo polvic gabbi or tomori Emerson
Mike
Let see if will not win seria A
Give us Man city assistant coach.
Yes, the team is complete when a few signings went the other way and you didn’t bother to get someone else in? What happened to an attacking midfielder like Samardzic? Nobody to buy for 12M?
We have RLC. The best #10 in the world.
All Milanisti need to raise their voice to bring Maldini back to lead the team.
Without Maldini, the team has no spirit.
#Bring Maldini Back
Yes I agreed Maldini should be back ASAP, and hope that one day we win again the scuddetto and champions league.. 🙏🤞
Forza Milan per sempre. From Malta..