Albertini gives thoughts on Fonseca, Reijnders, Leao and Milan’s lack of Italians | OneFootball

Demetrio Albertini believes that the AC Milan squad is lacking some Italian influence, while he tipped Tijjani Reijnders to become a top player in his role.

Albertini is currently the vice-president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and he is regarded as one of the key players in the dominant era of the 1990s for Milan.

He won many trophies, including five Serie A titles and two UEFA Champions League titles with the Rossoneri. He then went and played his final season with Barcelona, winning LaLiga before retiring that year.

The Milan academy graduate went with Italy to the World Cups of 1994 and 1998, as well as the 1996 and 2000 European Championships, reaching the finals of the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Albertini spoke to MilanNews while attending the press conference to present the Gran Galà del Calcio 2024, and he was asked about a number of topics connected to his former club.

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Can Fonseca become a top coach with Milan?

“Well, if he wins a title, yes (laughs). The coach’s work depends on results, they are the fruit of a year’s work by a coach. If we find Fonseca in the list of the best coaches, it will mean that he has won the title.

“Fonseca seems very straightforward to me, sometimes from the outside we judge what we would like and not what he really is. Managing a group of players on a daily basis is not easy, in fact I didn’t want to be a coach (laughs).

“What Milan are lacking is consistency, they play extraordinary games and then lose points like what happened in Cagliari after Real Madrid. When you change coaches, it can happen that you don’t immediately achieve the results you hoped for at the beginning and so it’s too early to judge him.”

Are Milan worthy of the Scudetto?

“In my opinion, from what they have shown so far, no, but there is still a long way to go. I see other teams that are more solid and well-equipped. And I say this as a Milan fan… There is still a long way to go.

“For me, to win the Scudetto, it is fundamental how negative moments are managed. A moment of decline comes for everyone during a season, so we need to see how that moment is managed.”

Milan-Juventus is on Saturday. Could Fonseca be at risk with a loss?

“You don’t judge a coach’s work by a win or a loss. I believe that objectively there are still too many games to go. I hope for a spectacular match that will be seen all over the world. Our competitors are also the other leagues.”

How much is this game worth to Milan?

“It can give the awareness of being a great team. There are good players in Milan. Beating Juventus would give the Rossoneri awareness, as happened after the success in the derby.”

What kind of player is Reijnders?

“He’s a good player who can become important for Milan. I honestly didn’t expect it, he surprised me positively. The comparison with Rijkaard? He’s good, but I wouldn’t make comparisons with Frankie.”

What can you tell us about Leao?

“I see a strong player, a bit inconsistent. He needs to improve on this, but he has great potential. The strong player has the pressure, not the weak ones.”

Deschamps said that Theo is tired, especially mentally…

“Our world is not used to this. In other sports, we work much more on these psychological aspects.”

Is there a lack of sense of belonging in today’s football?

“I really like the sense of belonging. Once it belonged more to the youth sector, now I’m expanding it to Italianness. I miss this cohesion that is useful in difficult times.”

Are there a few Italians missing from Milan?

“In my opinion, yes.”