Rafael Leao has claimed that the AC Milan squad are only just starting to get to grips with coach Paulo Fonseca’s tactical ideas, after the 0-0 draw against Genoa.
Milan were celebrating 125 years of history in front of their fans and together with some of the most beloved legends like Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Pippo Inzaghi and Clarence Seedorf.
However, the performance was not up to the occasion as they failed to break down a resolute Genoa side, eventually drawing 0-0. The full-time whistle saw fans protest and the team were jeered off the field.
Outside San Siro, the Curva Sud Milano in fact displayed a banner towards the ownership, singing chants such as ‘These owners do not deserve us’ and ‘we are not Americans’.
Leao was the only Milan player to speak after the game having worn the armband given Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria’s absences. He spoke to DAZN, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
Milan are lacking consistency…
“It takes time, we’re starting to understand the coach’s ideas a bit, but in my opinion sometimes the problem is us inside, small things that we can change like the nastiness in front of goal, finding spaces on the pitch.
“The coach has good ideas, he wants to play a lot, press the opponent. I really feel the difference because when we press we have the ball close to the opponent’s area and we can score, but it takes time.
“We’ve had a good period, now we’ve drawn but it can’t be the end of the world. We have to get up all together, work because today we almost won, we hit the crossbar. Football is like that.”
Do you realise that you are dropping very important points in terms of the table?
“Yes, clearly. The coach also told us that it was an important match. We on the pitch must also understand that, that every match must be like a final.
“Today we did not lack attitude, but it is one of those matches in which even if we had played another 30 minutes we would not have scored. We cannot lose any more points along the way, because otherwise it will become difficult.”
We should believe in the work the coach is doing. It is probably going to take some time, but sooner or later the results will start showing. This team is actually playing better and better every game and yesterday was an absolutely dominating performance. We should support Fonseca’s good work and give him more time. With Bennacer’s return and with the window transfer coming and our excellent player targeting strategy, there is no reason to believe we won’t win 10 games in a row and find ourselves in a comfortable position. If we get players like Cardoso and Belahyane, this team will go to the next level.
Just few more games and everything will start improving, trust me.
I believe that he should have been fired already, given the team’s position in the standings. However, it seems that management is observing something different in training and in the locker room that justifies keeping him. For this reason, I think he will remain in his position for the rest of the season. Yes, the team are more dynamic than Piolis.
5 months and they only learned a bit. Sums it all up. It’s either Fonseca too genius or he simply didn’t have any idea to begin with.
He’s definitely no Genius… LOL!!!
Same with Conte at Napoli, Slot at Liverpool and Kompany at Bayern – all languishing mid table.
These things take time when the new coaches IQ is so advanced, but in 2 or 3 seasons we’ll be right back up there challenging Lazio for 4th!
This is what I was talking about. 16 games in and they are just now starting to figure things out? Sure doesn’t look like it on the field.
But but but… Zero goals conceded!!! (Against Genoa though, FFS).