Journalist Pietro Mazzara has hit out at the AC Milan ownership and management for the way that they handled the sacking of Paulo Fonseca.
As a reminder if you were unable to follow last night, the news broke from several major sources around 30 minutes before kick-off in the Roma game that Fonseca’s sacking was imminent regardless of the result.
While the Curva Sud chanted against the ownership and the team played out a 1-1 draw on the field, Fonseca then spoke to reporters after the game and insisted he knew nothing about his potential dismissal.
Then, on his way out of the stadium, he confirmed to reporters that he has spoken to the management and received his marching orders. This was all before an official statement from the club, which arrived this morning.
Mazzara spoke in his weekly column for MilanNews and he commented on the manner of Fonseca’s sacking above all, one which leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth for all involved.
“Paulo Fonseca’s dismissal as Milan coach was already written news, but it was just waiting for the right moment to be able to come out,” he began.
“The click came after the draw with Roma, a match in which the Portuguese coach was detonated against the referee Fabbri for not awarding a potential penalty on Reijnders, ending up in the locker room in the 40th minute.
“That will be the last image of his adventure at Milan, but it is the whole context around the dismissal that has non-canonical connotations.
“Arriving at the stadium, through the first indiscretions launched by Peppe Di Stefano on Sky and Matteo Moretto on X, we entered the mindset that Milan had made the decision to change coach with the agreement reached with Sergio Conceiçao already at the beginning of last week.
“Fonseca, therefore, arrived at San Siro with his fate sealed even if he had won and this aspect, given that something happened between the parties after the victory in Verona, can also be accepted. Marco Giampaolo was also fired after the win at home to Genoa.
“But it was the aftermath that left us a bit perplexed. Fonseca was thrown to the press without having previously received the news of his dismissal.
“A situation that embarrassed both him and (I presume) those who had to accompany him in front of the microphones, because the questions that his colleagues asked Fonseca were clear, direct, targeted, the result of news that circulated and were confirmed by various sources even during the match.
“Fonseca, at least in his exit from Milan, should have been protected. In his place, a member of the management should have shown up to legitimise the choice of change after having communicated it to the person directly concerned, but this did not happen.
“Instead, Fonseca was told, albeit indirectly, of his dismissal by the press before receiving the news from the management in the dressing room at San Siro. Fonseca the man deserved better treatment.”
Dude got dismissed twice in one game 😂😂😂sry didn’t mean to be mean. it’s just funny to me.
Good one🤣🔥
“Fonseca the man deserved better treatment.” How and why are people surprised that this management don’t do things deservedly. Paolo deserved better. Pioli deserved (although they gave him a send off, leading up to that they did nothing to dispell rumours). They are ruthless and do things on a strictly business sense….the owner says as much in case people don’t believe me. People skills are not their strong point. They’re running the club old school style…business only
One classless Paulo dismissal can be forgiven. But the second such classless handling means nothing was learned from the first.
Culture comes from the top. Cardinale I expect better treatment of those who serve. Even when they don’t serve well.
SMH.
What to expect from furlani more than to backstab you just like he did to maldini, two days ago he was on team training with fonseca both smiling ,he didnt say him a word, they disrescpect everyone, coaches,legends,italian players, thats american culture ,ibra is the same
Secretly they pulled Maldinis Sustainability Strategy out of the garbage.
Who am I kidding. Ownership and management are a joke.
The Judas Furlani lol 😂
Ibra better watch out, after all it was Judas who told Gerry to hire him. I recall in his organizational chart he put Ibra under him 🤣🤣🤣
Furlani is Italian and you’re obviously not familiar with Serie A’s history, or indeed football in other leagues, if you think clubs don’t fire managers without it leaking to the press first. Your new year’s resolution should be to try and make a post that isn’t embarrassing.
When you don’t know you don’t know. It shows in anything you do. Doesn’t matter is it player purchase or sacking a coach, people in charge at Milan are noobs.
Of course they’re noobs, this is the first major club they’ve managed which is precisely why mistakes will be made and why those who complain are complete imbeciles. What do you expect?
I’m one of those who wanted Fonseca fired but not like this, the way this shitty owner treat him is disgusted me but what am i expecting when they treat Maldini the club legend like crap.
Well what did you expect from the cowards who took side entrance to avoid fans protest?
Americans have no footballing culture and very disrespectful, agree or disagree with the guy but you don’t fire him in the spot. 20 shots one goal is bad conversion rate and players need to do better.
Everything was done @$$ backwards with the handling of Fonseca. Just basically shows that this management do not know how to do their job properly.
If the decision had been made to sack him after Verona, why wait until after Roma? Conceicao would have had more time to work with the team. Instead, “You start on Monday, Juve in the SuperCoppa Friday! Good Luck”…
Conceicao has his work cut out for him and not a lot of time to do it. I already feel for him and frankly am surprised he accepted under these circumstances.
Sarri, for example refused the offer when Milan went to him first according to sources. no self respecting coach would take a “clean-up” job for pennies, but apparently Conceicao feels like an effin’ Cinderella here.
The winner is Mendes and the hold he has on this team.
And what does that mean for the winter market? Will Milan HAVE to reinforce key positions or will they have Serigo do this gig with his hands tied behind his back?
The whole thing just looks so Amateurish…
💯💯💯💯
I don’t think you need to judge all Americans because the onership at Milan show no class. In MLS coaches rarelry get sacked this quickly. I live in Chicago and support the Fire. Our owner seems to give the manager too much time before a change.
Just MHO.
The ultimate example, admitting they have no plan, no clue what they’re doing. The manager they insisted was right for the club doesn’t even survive 6 months, signings failing outside of Fofana, club becoming a punchline while they hide from all criticism like spineless clowns. Get them all out.
The management never fails to amaze us with their incompetence and lack of class.
UN MEDIOCRE!!!! MERECE ÉSTO!!! (DA PENA!!) PERO CON ESA PREPOTENCIA # SOBERBIA!!!!…. YOU ARE FIRED!!!!