Fonseca discusses San Siro jeers, the ‘real Milan’ and lack of identity: “It’s not right” | OneFootball

Ahead of AC Milan’s clash against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Paulo Fonseca spoke to the media about his team’s identity and the jeers that were heard at San Siro on Saturday.

The pressure is building on Fonseca at Milan, and tomorrow’s game against Slovan must be a positive one for the Rossoneri. Unfortunately for the Portuguese head coach, the squad cannot afford sup-bar performances anymore.

Against Juventus, the result was not terrible – the Diavolo did not lose – but considering the situation that Fonseca’s side find themselves in – now 10 points away from the league leaders – many see the game as a missed opportunity.

For this reason, the Champions League must serve as a reason for the fans to remain grounded about the club. If it does not, reactions like those shown at San Siro on Saturday could become a regular occurrence, which would only cause things to spiral further.

On the eve of the fixture, Fonseca spoke to the media about the game the ‘real Milan’ amongst other topics, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.

You have made no secret of the fact that Milan struggle to face matches in which the level, including in the media, is lower. Tomorrow’s game is against the last in the standings: is there a risk of underestimating them?

“I expect not. We talked about how important it is to win tomorrow. We have to look at the fact that we play here against a team with totally different characteristics and how important it is for us to have the right attitude to win. We cannot underestimate this team.”

You spoke about rotation, can this also concern a player like Leao? Or do you think Leao needs to play right now?

“I honestly don’t know, let’s see tomorrow. Rafa is an important player in our team, he’s really in a good moment. But I have confidence in everyone: if Rafa doesn’t play then someone else will play. We want so much to win here: it’s not that he will play a team not to win, he will play a team to win. There is the possibility that Leao won’t be there as well as that he will be there. Abraham will play.”

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Milan are showing us that even a gala night, like against Juventus, can go less well. Do you understand what the real Milan is at this moment of the season?

“What I know at the moment is that against the big teams, we have been a team that has done well and one that has done less well against the ‘small ones’. We work to be a team with the attitude and ambition we showed against the big teams, we work to be the same team.”

Doesn’t the Champions League have a different key with the small teams?

“Yes, I think so. The Champions League is the Champions League. Everyone likes to be in these games, the motivation is greater. I expect that they can play the Champions League tomorrow with this motivation.”

How did you see the team after Juventus?

“We have an awareness of what we did well and what we did less well. We did several things less well. The dimension of things in Milan seems different to me. I watch games like Saturday’s every weekend, a draw looks like a defeat for Milan and a win for other teams. The important thing is that the team is doing well.”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Do you expect a team with fire inside tomorrow?

“Today we talked about how important the Champions League can be for us with these matches. I think we have a chance to win them. We talked among ourselves about how important it is to win tomorrow for the future of our team in the competition. We must always have this ambition and motivation.”

Fofana is the most-used outfield player this season. Can he rest tomorrow?

“We are coming to the hotel now, he will have time to rest and be ready for tomorrow. No, at this moment it is difficult to rest Fofana.”

How did Emerson take the booing? Any chance of seeing Calabria again?

“Emerson had a sprained ankle, he hasn’t trained these days, Calabria will play. It is an opportunity for Davide to show that he is ready to help the team. I haven’t spoken to Emerson about the booing. What I always say is that it’s normal, it’s our profession. They are the same people who have applauded other times. We have to do everything to get the fans on our side again.”

What do you think of Bratislava and Slovan?

‘It is a beautiful city, it is a pleasure to see it. I know Slovan Bratislava well, I drew here with one of my teams. They are a physical team, if we don’t have the right attitude it will be difficult.’

A year ago you were here, in the meantime have you seen some Slovan matches?

“Yes, now there are other players. The most important ones, however, have stayed, it’s not a very different team from the one I played against.”

After three months, Paulo Fonseca’s Milan still has no identity. What do you have to say?

“I respect opinions. I can’t really talk about who talks and how they talk, I don’t watch. But I respect them. I think it’s not right, it’s not totally right to say something like that. If we look at what the results are in the league I understand that we could have done much better. But if we understand everything that was this process then I say it is not right.

“We can look at the result and criticise, we can then look at the process and say it’s not right. But that is my opinion and I respect the opinion of others.”