Arrigo Sacchi has taken aim at AC Milan after their poor start to the season, but he believes that the club need to give Paulo Fonseca time to get his methods across.
Milan were involved in an entertaining encounter on Saturday night as they took the lead then came from behind to draw 2-2 against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, and yet the overall feeling is not positive because the winless start continues.
A saga has developed because of what happened during the cooling break that followed the Rossoneri’s second goal with suggestions of a split dressing room and an already flailing confidence in the coach on the part of some senior players.
However, both Theo and Fonseca poured cold water on things after the game and the club are keen to stress that there are no deeper issues, even if the media headlines continue to pedal the narrative of a rift.
Sacchi spoke in his weekly column for La Gazzetta dello Sport and he highlighted the contrast between what Milan and their city rivals Inter showed over the weekend.
“The third round of the season said something important: Inter are doing very well. Not only because they won 4-0 against Atalanta, but because they showed excellent manoeuvres in possession of the ball,” he said.
“Simone Inzaghi’s boys still need to improve when they are in the defensive phase: they drop too deep, they don’t press and in this way they bring the opponents to the edge of the area.
“It can be a dangerous choice, especially when you are facing teams that have great champions capable of resolving the match with a simple play.
“In my opinion, however, the Nerazzurri, when they were in control of the action, deserved a 10 in the report card. If they add a bit of pressing to this quality, I think they can reach one hundred percent of their potential.
“Atalanta, beyond the four goals conceded, seemed to me to be a team penalised by injuries and transfer operations. Gasperini is a master and I am sure he will be able to right the ship and take it far.
“Juve, against Roma, was less brilliant than in previous performances. I believe that both the Bianconeri and the Giallorossi were a bit afraid of each other. That’s normal, especially at this point in the season.
“I have a lot of respect for Thiago Motta and De Rossi and I am sure they will do a great job. They have ideas and courage, and at times we saw that last night too. I repeat: respect and fear were brakes for both. The proof is that the teams were very little unbalanced and almost never shot on goal.
“Milan at the Olimpico provided a two-faced performance. Let me explain: in the first half I saw a more compact team than in previous games and, even if some players are not yet in condition, they managed to play with a decent pace.
“In the second half, however, Milan fell apart, there were no longer the right distances between the departments, everyone went their own way around the pitch, and that’s not good. So, improvements in the first half and the usual flaws in the second.
“Where the truth lies we will only find out with the next tests. I don’t think it’s right to blame Fonseca: let’s let him work in peace and then we will be able to formulate a more balanced judgment. If the managers chose him, they must have had their good reasons.
“You can’t fail a professional after three games: it’s unfair and, above all, not very correct. It takes time to build a house, brick by brick. Mistakes can be made, corrections are made and at the end of the work, conclusions are drawn.
“The case involving Theo Hernandez and Leao has caused quite a stir. I don’t know the dynamics within the group and I don’t allow myself to judge. I will say, however, that the coach’s choices, even when they are considered wrong, must always be respected by the players.
“Fonseca is there to give a soul and a game to the team, if he left out Theo and Leao he must have thought about it a lot: coaches don’t fill out formations randomly.
“As for Leao, I’ll say this: he’s a boy who has great qualities, but he doesn’t always manage to show them off. He has to work hard to make that leap in quality that everyone expects from him.”
Yeah let him W.I.P not Resting, cause it’s a long way to decide after Liverpool match
Management is too calm in taking him.
the only peace he is getting is a piece of my mind. who does he think he is benching our best players. you are only here hopefully temporarily and we will be holding the door for you on the way out.
Let him work in peace until when?
I can understand if Milan is in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th place in the table. But right now we’re in 14th and only had 1 point difference with Venezia who sit at the bottom of the table. This is the worst start since 1930’s season before World War 2.
If we keeps getting draw and lost result, not just we out from scudettto race and CL qualification but we will battle to survive from degradation to Serie B.
oh, stop whining. we win a game and we’re up 5 spots. there is many points untill the end of the season.
We just need a minute to get our bearings
what a ridiculouse comment. do you think the other teams in italy will just take a holiday while you get oyour barings… or maybe ask juve, roma, inter, napoli, atalanta, to drop points so you cant maybe cathc up a little bit.
maybe you havent kept up with transfers this season but serie a is very competitive this season much more then last season.
we are out of top four just based on the level of competition and the squad we have to compete.
I dont care about other teams. Roma is in the same boat as we are. Atalanta is one point ahead..
Top four atm all have 7 points and teams to beat are Torino and Udinese? Yeah they for sure will keep this tempo for the rest of the season..
Wait 5 more games and then you’ll begin to see the actual shape of the table this season.
We just need to take it a game at a time and collect points. 35 rounds to go. I’m sure we will make top 4 if fonseca gets his head out of his ašš
we should give him a little bit of time if he dont get a win till the last game of september then we should looking for options
i believ fonsca can mak it up just pacient is needed .and comin features we will all three of them venezia.liverpo.inter just watch
i can understand the need for time. The same problems are inherited from last season.
whenever there is a change in the style of play, there is an immediate push from the players i.e. ”the stars”
the only difference i see here is that pioli managed it better, gained their respect by not changing anything.
to be honest, this was the job of the management, they should’ve picked up the signs and sold them with maximum gain.
after the last mutiny, both the price and the interest would certainly drop.
we had players that put their soul for the team, even if they weren’t seen fit enough or up to the standards, they definitely had the will to do anything bennacer, tonali, Maldini, kalulu, Adli and saelmakers even the likes of calabria and gabbia are the sort of players that you are just sure would give 110% week in and out.
Am not saying the new player are bad, they just need time for integration and a team like Milan doesn’t have that time.
I think it’s right too give Fonseca a chance too prove himself on this team, Theo and leao can’t be rude to a new coach like that,a player must respect their coach always, let Fonseca be a discipline coach and makes them too know that no one is special in this team unless you prove your playing with right attitude too play for
ac milan ok,I support Fonseca on this ok