Fonseca discusses his Leao ‘strategy’, prioritising Scudetto fight and fan perception | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has shed a bit more light in his approach with Rafael Leao, stressing the importance of winning against Cagliari.

Milan are riding a high after their 3-1 victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, which gave them their second win of the Champions League group stage so far.

Fonseca made four changes to the starting line-up for that game, with the most notable being the inclusion of Yunus Musah. There was doubt about whether he would be a right winger or a wing-back, and we looked at his role in our tactical analysis.

As big a win as it was for morale and to prove that the team can go toe-to-toe with anyone in Europe, it will soon be forgotten if they don’t follow it up with three points against a struggling Cagliari side.

Fonseca spoke to the media on the eve of the game in the press conference room at Milanello, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

Milan achieved something great in Madrid. How important is it not to waste the effort and hard work done tomorrow against Cagliari?

“I think it’s important to stick with the good things we’ve done, with this spirit and courage. It’s important to understand that it will be a different game. We have to be a different team to play in Cagliari. We have to have the right attitude to win this game.”

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Did the Madrid game change anything in the players?

“Before the game, the team was aware of what it can be, of how we have grown in this time. Obviously, the match against Real brings more confidence to the players. All matches are important, I don’t think the match in Madrid is more important than this one against Cagliari.

“We have to understand the moment, the opponent and the competitions. We have to return to our competition, which is different, and we have to have the right attitude.”

Was Musah’s position one-time experiment? How is Morata?

“It was a strategy for that game. I don’t know if we can do it in other games, maybe we can do it with other players. But it was mainly a strategy for the game against Real, for their characteristics and how we wanted to defend. Maybe we need to do the same in other games?

“It was a strange situation [with Morata]. He had a clash with Pavlovic. At first I didn’t think it was a problem like it was. He’s fine, but he’s not ready and he can’t play tomorrow.”

Will Leao play tomorrow?

“Yes, tomorrow he will start. He had a good game. I said he could have done even better and made some better decisions.

“We all have to understand that it will be a totally different match for Rafa, with man-marking, without the space he had in Madrid. It will be a different match. I expect Rafa to be at the same level.”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Do you also expect a few more goals from Leao?

“Yes. Rafa had how many moments in the last 30 metres? 9-10 situations. He can improve in the final decision, and then it is clear to everyone that he can improve defensively. We must continue to work with him on these things that are important for him but above all for the team.”

Is it important to win tomorrow in the fight for the Scudetto?

“It’s important for everything, we mustn’t make mistakes in this type of match. We can’t drop points at this moment. We’re coming off a good match, there’s no point in the victory against Real if we don’t win against Cagliari.

“It will be a totally different match due to the characteristics of the opponent, but it’s very important to win tomorrow.”

How did Leao experience being benched in recent weeks? How is your relationship with him?

“He’s good and he’s always been good. Obviously I can’t say everything, but we coaches try to have different strategies. I tried to have a strategy with Rafa, maybe it wasn’t the best. Now I’ve adopted a different strategy that seems to have had an effect.

“But I’ve never had problems with Rafa. He had a reaction, which is what I want. I expect him to continue like this. If these are the results then maybe we’ll see more of Rafa on the bench (laughs).”

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Twice as underdogs – against Inter and Real – Milan showed their best performance. Why?

“Maybe we can have different explanations. First of all I have to say that this type of match is a great motivation for the players. If we can tell the truth, the players face these matches more motivated than other matches.

“And for this reason I am more worried today about Cagliari than before the match against Real. Then, they are totally different matches. When you play against this type of team like against Real, the worst that can happen is not having courage because there is so much space.

“When teams play these types of matches they go in with a bit of fear and think about defending themselves. But I tell the players that there is space, that we can do our things and therefore during the match you gain confidence. In this type of match we have space to play.

“Tomorrow I am sure we will not have the same space to play. The team when it is in this context is a team that has courage, that controls the match, that plays together. That is why we did well.”

Do you have the perception that after Madrid the fans love you more?

“It’s normal (laughs)! For me nothing has changed. I have to follow the path I believe in. If I don’t win tomorrow then… I’m always the same, I don’t look at anything and I continue on the path I believe in.”

Do you feel like you have a tournament team, a Champions League team?

“I honestly haven’t thought about that (laughs). But I like it (laughs). I also like that the team understands that here in Italy it is the priority. We must have the same attitude, the same courage to win games here.

“For me, Serie A is our priority. We have always played well against great teams, we must do the same against other teams. This is my concern.”

Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

The coach of Spain said that Morata will definitely play the first or second match with the national team. After the break there is Juventus, isn’t it better to explain to the coach that it would be better to rest?

“I don’t know how he can say that, there is a protocol. After a head injury the player must stop 10 days. I have the indication that the player must stop for 10 days. It’s the protocol, it’s not an option, I don’t know how he can say that.”

Against Cagliari, is it better to change the way of playing, perhaps playing with three in midfield?

“I’m not sure… If you can give me some advice to win (smiles). We play with three midfielders, how can you say no? Fofana, Reijnders, Pulisic. We’ve played with four now with Musah. We’ve always played with three midfielders.”

Should Milan start with more energy?

“I’m sure we didn’t agree on the Monza match. But I think the team played with the right attitude against Monza. They played with difficulty but the team played with the right attitude and mentality for that match.  I expect it to be the same tomorrow.

“Can we say that Stuttgart who played against Atalanta didn’t have the right attitude? Instead, they had difficulty playing against a team that defends man to man. As a coach I know that it’s very difficult to face teams that defend like that, it’s difficult.”

Are you having selection headaches?

“At the moment it is difficult to choose players. For example Chukwu [Samuel Chukwueze], who is in a good moment. I can explain to the players that it is a tactical choice, not based on performance. Now we have more possibilities to change depending on the matches.

“For example we played with Pavlovic and Thiaw because it was a physical match. In Madrid, a faster match, Tomori played. I am lucky to be able to choose based on the matches and the opponents.

“I think the players understand it, I am direct and I explain when I have to explain. It is positive to have this possibility and I think the players understand the choices well.”

Will Abraham play tomorrow?

“I can tell you right away because you’ll know after half an hour (laughs). Tomorrow Camarda will play.”

Tomorrow you will hit four months at Milan…

“It’s a pride, I’m very satisfied. It’s difficult, but I’m very proud and very motivated seeing the work and growth of the team. It’s highly motivating, I’m very motivated and satisfied.”

Can you shed more light on the differences between Europe and Italy?

“When we have a match like the one against Real Madrid we have the intention of looking for certain spaces because we have the spaces. To play against Real we have a good positional game. To play against Cagliari we need other things.

“When there is individual marking there is no space for positional play, there are other important things, which I don’t want to talk about (smiles). It is clear that the team’s way of approaching the match must be different.

“Against Monza, against Napoli at some points, we did many good things. We must continue to do these important things to face this type of team.”

Is Jovic still in the project?

“He’s part of the project. The problem is that he’s not well physically. He has a problem that continues. He trained these days but with pain. Today we tried, he has this strong pain again, it limits him. He won’t be available.”

It’s important to talk about Musah…

“The success of teams is based on this type of player. Musah is very important. He had already played a great match against Napoli. I asked him for another role and he did very well again.

“I know he is the type of player who is always ready to sacrifice himself and help the team. He has many qualities that I like. For me he was a decisive player in Madrid.

“I didn’t talk about it, because they only ask me questions about Leao (laughs). I wanted to, but the questions never came (laughs)!”

Why Camarda? Is he excited? Can you explain the choice?

“For me it’s not surprising. He works with us every day. I think everyone at the club believes in him a lot, he works well and understands the role well. For me players have no age, they have quality. And he shows every day that he has quality.

“Morata has a very specific role at the moment. Morata is not always a striker, but many times he is a player who unlocks passing lanes. I think Camarda is more ready than Abraham to play this role at the moment. And I have to say that Abraham is not completely well but he is better.

“I have total faith in Camarda. He trained very well. He is the age he is, but he has great maturity. He is brave, he works hard for the team defensively. Yesterday we had this problem with Morata. I didn’t have a single doubt about who should play tomorrow.”