Fonseca discusses Milan’s defensive fix, Theo and Leao’s form and Juve’s strengths | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has admitted that his side have an issue defensively, one that he believes will be fixed with the right mentality and more balance in the team.

Milan are facing a game that is not quite do-or-die given that we remain in November, but a positive result is certainly a necessity to avoid falling further behind in the title race.

Thiago Motta’s Juventus meanwhile are unbeaten in the league and yet they sit in sixth place. They are just two points off Napoli in first though, which shows how compact things are at the top.

There are a number of selection dilemmas awaiting Fonseca, in particular regarding the centre-back pairing and the midfield combination, things that today’s training session should have helped with.

The Portuguese coach spoke at his pre-match press conference at Milanello on the eve of the game, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

Thiago Motta confirmed Vlahovic’s absence. An important player is missing, will they now offer a different threat?

“Juve has a team that adapts very well to the players it has. I don’t know if Weah will play, who I know well because he worked with me. Maybe they will have different intentions, they are different players.

“Weah is very fast, he attacks the space in behind, he is different from Vlahovic. Maybe we need to pay attention to these movements in depth by Tim and not to his supports. The intentions of the team change a bit.”

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The other day you met Jannik Sinner. What did you like about him?

“It was a pleasure to support a Milan fan like Sinner. He has many good things that I would like to see in the team, but obviously it’s different because it’s a team sport. He almost never makes mistakes, he has an impressive ability to concentrate. Would I like to see the same in my team? Obviously, he’s number one.”

We are a third of the way through the season. How important is Milan-Juventus?

“It’s important, but not decisive, like all the games are now. I can’t say that the game against Juve is more important than the one against Empoli. We need to win [multiple games] in a row. I’m always positive, I always think about what we can win. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for Juve, but we are not afraid.”

Tomorrow there is a lot of pressure, like against Real Madrid. does it make you more relaxed? And why do you function better with less pressure?

“I don’t feel pressure for this type of match anymore. It’s not a question of pressure but of motivation. It’s easy to understand that against Inter, Juve, Real Madrid it’s easy to be motivated.

“Afterwards it’s more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation: we’re trying to understand this thing. At Milan there’s pressure every day: if we don’t want to have this pressure then we can’t be here.”

How much can Leao and Morata’s motivations count tomorrow?

“It’s important to have them in good form, they are decisive players who can make the difference in this type of match. We need the best Rafa and the best Morata for this match: I saw them in training and, like the others, they are very well and very motivated. I expect them to be able to show it in the match tomorrow.”

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

Juve are without strikers, Milan have plenty: will the difference be made there? Will it be an attacking Milan?

“We always want to be attacking. I think we are doing well offensively, scoring three goals in Madrid and Cagliari is a good sign offensively. I never expect us to be dependent on just one player, we depend on everyone.

“What the team does is important. I think that if the team is doing well the players will do well. I always think about the matches as teams, all the players will be important.

“We want to be an attacking team, but we know that Juventus are the team that has conceded the fewest goals. They are a very strong team defensively. It will be a difficult match in an attacking sense, I have no doubts”.

Could the tactical idea mirror those in Madrid?

“I think it will be a different game. I think Juventus are stronger defensively than Real Madrid at the moment: as a team they defend better. It’s not a criticism of Real, it’s what I think.”

The attacking phase has improved, but the number of goals conceded remains high. What are you working on, how can this problem be solved?

“I don’t want to run away from our problems. Our problem is defensive. I was lucky to have all the defenders here during the two weeks except Theo and Pavlovic. We worked a lot on the defensive line and on what to improve.

“I think the team can progress. The problem is not attacking and we are working to improve. In these two weeks I almost only work on the defensive line because I had almost all the defenders available.”

Have you studied a way to revitalise Theo?

“Theo is a great footballer. For me the best left back in the world, I have no doubts. I think it was a question of adaptation. We spoke in these days, he is learning things that are important. This week he seemed more focused and motivated than ever: an important sign to see him at the best level.”

Will Jovic be called up for tomorrow?

“Jovic is not well. He cannot be called up. Camarda will obviously be with us. He trained with us.”

How do you achieve greater balance? By improving the defensive phase or by changing the formation?

“Do you want the three midfielders? (laughs) I agree with Zlatan, we have to find this balance. If we had never played and defended well [it would be more understandable], but we did it and even against the strongest teams.

“If we have the possibility to do it against the strongest teams it is because our team has this possibility, and it is positive. It is a question of concentration and attitude. The way we see the games against the ‘smaller’ teams. It is a mental question for me.

“We are working, we are talking. It is by talking to the players that we can find this balance. When we talk about defensive problems we talk a lot about the defenders, but not only the defenders. If we do not press well up front the players have more time with the ball exposed… It is a mentality and concentration problem.”

Deschamps said that Theo was tired mentally and physically. Do you understand the reason for this mental tiredness?

“I spoke to Theo. I honestly don’t think it’s mental fatigue. It’s a question of adaptation. I don’t want to comment on what Deschamps said.”

How is Gabbia? Could he play from the first minute?

“He’s fine, he trained these days and he’s ready to play.”

Milan are last in Serie A for duels won and balls recovered. Does it also depend on the characteristics of the players?

“We are not a very aggressive team in defence. These recoveries, however, happen all over the pitch: we are the team with the most offensive pressing actions. But defensively we are not a very aggressive team, also due to the characteristics of the players.

“We are working to bring this aggression into the duels. This week we have worked in many one-on-one situations, we are working to improve in this too.”

Against Inter you used Morata behind the striker, against Real it was Musah on the right. Is there another ‘Fonsecata’ for tomorrow?

“I’m not inventing anything new. Obviously we have to pay attention to the characteristics of Juventus. It won’t be anything new (smiles).”

Juve came back against Inter when Vlahovic wasn’t on the field as their movement caused issues…

“Yes. I really like Juve. It’s a team that likes to play, it’s totally different from last year. We’re talking about Vlahovic here but I think the most influential players are the wingers: this is their main danger.”

Some say it’s Milan’s last chance to get back in the Scudetto race. Do you agree?

“As I said, it’s an important match. This is not a league like in Spain with Real and Barcelona, ​​or France with PSG. The difference with the ‘small’ teams is not like in France or Spain. There is a greater balance. I’m sure that all the teams will lose many points until the end. For us it’s an important match.”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Leao said he has to be more selfish, are you asking that of him too?

“I understand what Rafa said. I think he means he has to be more decisive. I agree. I think Rafa can be more decisive. He is working to be, I have no doubt about that.”

Is it really just a matter of characteristics when it comes to defence, or is there also something mental? How do you solve this thing?

“When I said after the Madrid game that it will be more difficult to win in Cagliari, I didn’t say it because I’m crazy. I also said it to send a message to the group. I know that this team has this characteristic: when we play against this type of team, they relax a bit. That’s why I sent this message.”

Did the team get the message?

“Honestly, I don’t think we understood it well. I knew it was a dangerous game. We go to Madrid, we play well, we win. We’re all euphoric. We go to Cagliari, before the break. That’s why I wanted to talk about those difficulties. I know that this team has difficulty motivating itself and concentrating.

“Generally, I’ve been in other teams that played in the Champions League. It happens a lot. After the Champions League, it happens that you don’t get good results. You too are more motivated to do your job better at the Bernabeu than in Cagliari, it’s humanly understandable. And we have to work to resolve this thing.”

Can Loftus-Cheek also play out wide like Musah?

“I honestly don’t know, I haven’t tried him there. I think he has the characteristics to play in the centre. Musah has different characteristics, he has played on the wing several times, even in the national team.”

Can this team go on a winning streak?

“I spoke about this today with the players. We need to win several games in a row. It is fundamental for us. We have this ability. We are Milan, we have to do it. If we want to recover the points lost we have to do this to have a chance of fighting for the Scudetto.”

Photo by AC Milan

What makes you optimistic about the team’s future in the medium term?

“I think we’ve already talked about it several times. How the players receive our ideas. Watching the team’s progress. We can talk about many things. Of course, I’m always positive. The players make me believe that we can be the team we want to be. They always work well, that makes me always positive.

“Maybe I could feel that the team wasn’t working well, wasn’t doing, wasn’t running. But that’s not what I feel with these players. I feel that little by little we are improving and progressing, we are following our path to be a stronger team.”

Loftus-Cheek with his physique could break the world, but on the pitch he seems a bit soft…

“All the players here have played and had different opportunities. I’m happy with Loftus. He had difficulties at the beginning: he’s an acceleration player, a transition player, he’s not a player who finds space. But I’m happy with the progress he’s made: he played a good game against Napoli.

“Only that after that I have another ‘problem’: Pulisic and Tijji are in a good moment. It’s difficult for Loftus because Chris, Tijji and Fofana are in a good moment. What does he have to do? Be patient and work hard to be ready, I’m sure he’ll play a lot. It’s difficult for everyone not to play, but I’m happy with Loftus because he always trains well.”

Do you think there is a need for a back-up to Fofana and a deputy to Theo? Will there be movement in January?

“I think we have the solutions here. With Bennacer, there is not much time left until he returns. He can and must fill Fofana’s position. This week I was talking to my staff about this: what solution can we have if Fofana has a problem? Loftus can be a solution, Musah can be a solution. They are adapted, but they can do it until Bennacer returns.

“It is true that Theo is the only left-back. I must say that I have faith in Bartesaghi, he can be a player who can help the team. We have not had the time to have Bartesaghi with us, but he is a player I like a lot. I think he can play with us if Theo Hernandez is not there.

“It is also more difficult for Camarda to play in Milan Futuro, it is a different context. Bartesaghi, Camarda and Zeroli have less difficulty with us than in Serie C. Here they have more space and the physical game is the same as in Serie C.

“This January transfer market in Italy is not easy: it is not easy for players to arrive and adapt. For me Bennacer can be an alternative important to Fofana.”