Sacchi praises ‘courage’ of Fonseca as Camarda starting is ‘progress’ for Italian football

Francesco Camarda, at the age of 16 years, 7 months and 31 days, will play from start for AC Milan against Cagliari. Arrigo Sacchi, the legendary Roasoneri coach, has praised Paulo Fonseca for this decision. 

Fonseca announced that Camarda would be starting during his pre-match presser yesterday, stating that the youngster is more ready than Tammy Abraham as things stand. The striker has already made his debut in Serie A as well as in the Champions League, but this will be the first start.

In his latest editorial for Gazzetta dello Sport, the legendary Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi discussed the decision and heaped praise on Fonseca for showing ‘courage. Furthermore, he argued that this is an important step in the right direction for Italian football.

“There is one thing I would like to emphasise. The coach has the right, and in my opinion also the duty, to show his courage, as Fonseca does by including Camarda among the starters.

“Camarda starting, which some may consider a gamble, has me in complete agreement: I have always been in favour of young people, I have always wanted them in my teams because they have enthusiasm.

“Imagine if I don’t root for a sixteen-year-old boy who is trying to succeed in a complicated environment like football. And, by rooting for Camarda, I’m rooting for Fonseca: it is with courage that you move forward, not with fear.

“For too long, Italian football has been a slave to fear and cunning. Now we see improvements, we see teams that go away to ‘play’ the game, that fight on equal terms with their opponents, and in this way, they show that they are courageous.

“Now, I would really like football to be an example of courage for our entire country. Camarda’s inclusion goes in the direction of renewal, of progress. Let’s watch him with interest, without throwing our arms up he misses a shot or a dribble,” he stated.

The game is scheduled for 18:00 CET and aside from Camarda, Samuel Chukwueze is the other change to the XI as the rest will remain untouched. Hopefully, Milan will clinch three important points in their Scudetto pursuit.