AC Milan have started the season in a hot and cold way. However, it has been largely cold, with the Rossoneri failing to perform for large parts of the season so far.
Paulo Fonseca has faced scrutiny heavily already this season, and there is a danger that Milan are restarting an old trend by failing to silence the questions about his position. We are already in a position where confidence is up and down in the Portuguese head coach, and this presents a mental problem if nothing else.
A squad can hardly get behind a manager whose position is questioned persistently, and this message goes to the fans too. It is difficult to support a manager who does not have a secure position, and when fans are not confident in their qualities to steer the club away from trouble, it creates a negative atmosphere.
Today, Xavier Jacobelli spoke to Milan News about Fonseca’s situation among others.
Eleven points in seven Serie A matches, four defeats in nine games considering the cups. How do you assess this start for Milan?
“From the point of view of performance, it is clear how up and down it is. The victory in the derby, followed by the one against Lecce made me think of a sign of a turnaround. This was not the case, but I believe that Milan have the men, the coach, the offensive game to allow them to be protagonists and start again after the break.”
Obvious problems are emerging, so much so that Fonseca got angry in the press conference on the question of the penalty taker…
“It is important to dot the i’s on the player/coach relationship. First the blatant form of dissent by Theo and Leao in the Lazio-Milan cooling break, then the two penalties in Florence where it should have been Pulisic who kicked them but it was not.
“I believe that at this moment the important thing is that Milan, starting from the next match, give a signal of unity between players and team because I don’t like the fact that in the space of 12 days between the derby and Florence again Fonseca has been put on the grill.”
Does Fonseca deserve trust?
“I don’t share this way of judging the work of the coach. He should be evaluated at the end of the season and not after a short block of matches. True, he got off to a bad start but now there are six starts available to redress the balance.”
In Champions League the situation is zero points in two games…
“It is clear that Milan can no longer make mistakes in Europe, the important thing is that we take stock of what has happened, starting again with a great desire to relaunch because the players of value are there and the coach is very good, but when you change the technical guidance it is obvious that you need time to find a perfect harmony.”
So you relieve Fonseca of responsibility?
“It is undeniable that Fonseca also made mistakes. I didn’t understand for example, limiting myself to the match in Florence, the substitution of Pulisic, who is the most fit player in Milan.”
Do you see similarities with Tabarez’s year? A new coach, a foreigner, a shaky start. In the Uruguayan’s case, the adventure ended in December…
“Two radically different contexts. I believe that when Milan chooses a new coach, he should be given time. What I don’t like is the superficiality of the judgements.”
Specifically?
“It’s not possible that after the derby victory we go from celebrating Fonseca to saying that Fonseca is not suitable after the defeat in Florence. I believe that this coach has the right to be judged at the end of the season.
“Football teaches us that judgements are dictated by results and not only by the quality of play. Since the derby we have improved considerably, looking at the calendar I say that the match against Udinese is already a litmus test to understand the potential of this team.”
Theo Hernandez has so far distinguished himself for many questionable attitudes, most recently the expulsion that cost him a two-day disqualification. More cross than delight so far
“We are talking about a 27-year-old gentleman, French national team, one of Deschamps’ captains and in Milan playing in 2019. Theo is a lynchpin of Milan, a great decisive player in the year of the Scudetto.
“A period of low vein can happen and there can be episodes of nervousness like the one that led to his two-day disqualification. I also believe that the absolute value of the player is such that I do not question him.”
What is the reason for these difficulties?
“I think it’s a period of poor condition, there is a European Championship behind us and the players are not robots. Theo if I’m not mistaken played all the matches in the final phase of Euro 2024. So it is also obvious that at the beginning of this season he is experiencing a drop in performance.
“Paradoxically I believe that this period will allow him to recharge his batteries and allow him to come back motivated. This is knowing the player, the pride and the awareness of his strength.”
Journalists always asking pointed questions to provoke a controversial answer to sell papers. Fonseca will be evaluated at the end of the season, and fans make judgment superficially. That is all we gained from this interview.
Absolutely mate
JAJAJAJJA JAJAJAJA JAJAJAJJA hay periodistas (y comentarios) ojalá no al final de temporada ni en diciembre. Si eso pasa… se acabó la temporada
If Milan replaced Fonseca before the end of this season then Ibra, Furlani and Moncada should be fired too.
They had more than enough time to glfind a replacement for Pioli and this was the best they could do with so many top coaches available this summer? Then what was the point in replacing Pioli then if we weren’t going to get an upgrade on the coach?
It would have made sense to stick with Pioli if they weren’t going to raise the bar and get a better coach and not someone equally on the level as Pioli or less.
This reflects poorly on the people in management making decisions and it shows that they are incompetent.
Agreed except Pioli had already set extremely high standards so arguably was not easily replaceable.
An upgrade on Pioli would need to have been at the level Klopp given Pioli delivered a Scudetto, two 2nd places and a 4th (yes, FOURTH) in the league.
Just stupid decisions, i did not expect a better Milan… its exactly what they deserve. From origi to kalulu to emerson….
Speaking of Origi, where is he? Haha
His Wikipedia page says Milan Futuro.
That is a disgrace.
We’ve taken a player who reached his heights and reduced him to the level of Milan Futuro.
Even we couldn’t sell him then surely we make some use of him.
If Fonseca or Milan cannot make use of a player like Orgi then what hope is there?
How many players at Origi’s level (not my level, Origi’s level) will fail to reach their potential due to mismanagement?
Including the entirety of the Milan Futuro.
Sure some players don’t work out but in modern football the failure rate for formerly successful players is ridiculously high.
I hope he sacked the agent that convinced him to move to Milan.
Not sure what you’d want us to do with Origi.
Bringing him was a mistake.
Giving him such a long contact and huge salary were even bigger blunders.
The player absolutely refuses to move and no team wants him, so either terminates his contract and pay him, or wait till his contract expires and pay him.
Jacco is joking at the end of season?
That’s too long he will be gone very soon
It takes more than a few months to implement a system. Why these idiot fans ask for a new coach every month is an embarrassment. Give him a full season of you not pouting and if he shows no promise, make your decision then. But overreacting to every single move is embarrassing
I fear we don’t have much time at the rate he’s alienating players.
If he stays we could lose the last remaining Scudetto winners.