AC Milan registered their first defeat of the season last night as Parma were the better team at Ennio Tardini. With just one point from two games, the pundit Franco Ordine has now urged the Rossoneri to really think about Paulo Fonseca’s position.
While the opening game against Torino was poor, yesterday’s performance was even worse and Milan truly deserved to lose the game. The stars of the team failed to deliver and Fonseca got the tactics all wrong, with not even the substitutions helping.
In his post-match editorial for Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews24), Franco Ordine didn’t hold back and even urged Milan to really think about Fonseca’s future on the bench. If he isn’t the right back, then it would be better to rip off the bandaid now as he put it.
“Two symbolic images highlight Milan’s collapse against Parma. The first: Ibra spotted in the stands with his eyes closed and his hands on his face, already desperate. The second: Paulo Fonseca standing by the bench with his hands on his hip, helpless and incapable of straightening the navigation of his Milan that immediately ended up in trouble.
“Never has the start to the season been so poor, last close precedent was in 2011. The mercato, on paper, cannot be as miserable as the first two results certify. So it is to Fonseca that we must turn to ask for not vague words, not vague explanations, but convincing answers.
“Yesterday’s defeat was, first and foremost, well deserved. And it is the result of a failed strategic plan. Conceding a goal on the first counterattack, after less than 2 minutes, is a huge signal of reduced concentration and attention but also of a suicidal tactical disposition.
“And so it was throughout the first half when Parma shot in front of Maignan once, twice, three, four times. It is best to immediately take note of reality and take cover. How? Either Ibra and the Rossoneri management are convinced they have made the right choice in choosing the Portuguese as Pioli’s successor, or it is best to prepare for an equally revolutionary scenario, namely a change of technical leadership,” he wrote.
A sacking is very unlikely, of course, but it goes to show just how poor the start of the season has been for Milan. A big change will be needed to get anything from the game against Lazio at the Olimpico, otherwise the international break will be very tough.