Paulo Fonseca solely lasted 5 months as the top coach of AC Milan and it might be correct to explain it as a rollercoaster journey, with some very fascinating quotes made.
The shape has been very up and down within the league and whereas Milan have received 4 in a row within the Champions League, the administration felt it was finest to maneuver on as to switch Fonseca.
Throughout his time on the membership, Fonseca proved to be a somewhat fascinating character. His press conferences began in fairly a restrained method, however he regularly grew in confidence and charisma.
Certainly, there have been a number of notable phrases from the previous Lille, Roma and now Milan boss, of which we’ve picked out 5 of the most effective.
Modus operandi
Reasonably than going for a extra established title like Antonio Conte, it’s clear that the administration have been already in place, as a substitute of choosing somebody extra demanding or with a completely completely different philosophy.
Fonseca spoke alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Casa Milan in what was his official presentation press convention again in July, and we discovered just a little bit concerning the taking part in type that he needed to implement into the squad.
“I feel that Milan is a membership with a historical past of getting attacking soccer. To win we have to be a dominant staff: that is what I wish to construct right here. A brave, dominant, attacking, reactive staff, a staff that doesn’t let different groups assume and play.
“However initially I wish to win. The standard of the sport is necessary to me. I wish to construct a staff that leaves the followers proud, with a robust identification.”
Fonseca made it very clear from day one which he needed to assemble a Milan facet that performs soccer in the most effective and most dominant manner. Quick-forward to the start of 2025, that is one thing we by no means obtained to see – at the very least not persistently.
Transferring mountains
For a lot of, the sport in opposition to Actual Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu appeared like a frightening activity, maybe essentially the most tough Champions League recreation you possibly can probably get, at the very least on paper.
Nonetheless, which was very a lot deserved, Fonseca made it very clear that he sees video games in Italy as tougher due to the tactical points it poses.
“This match, for a staff that wishes to manage with the ball, is a match through which we’ve more room: they aren’t matches like in Italy. You don’t perceive exterior of Italy how difficult it’s in Italy: Monza performs man to man, Cagliari man to man.
“European groups are having problem: it’s a state of affairs that doesn’t exist in different leagues. It’s tougher taking part in in Italy, the matches with Monza and Cagliari are tougher. It’s tough to have good matches in opposition to groups that play man to man.”
He additionally went on to talk about worrying relating to the motivation of the gamers after such a glamorous night time. The consequence? Milan would drop factors in opposition to Cagliari, conceding 3 times as many objectives as they’d in opposition to the European champions Actual. He was proper, he foresaw the difficulty, however couldn’t cease it from occurring.
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The Leao therapy
One of many extra fascinating sub-plots of Fonseca’s tenure at Milan thus far was his relationship with Rafael Leao, all geared toward lighting a spark in his compatriot.
Earlier than the Empoli recreation, Fonseca revealed that he tried two various things to attempt to get a response from the winger, .
“Now sure. Coaches have completely different methods. I used two. One didn’t have outcomes, the opposite one appears to have.
“I’m very happy with Rafa’s response to being on the bench. However he desires consistency. The staff wants this model of Rafa. What was the opposite one which didn’t work? I can’t say (laughs).”
It’s possible that the 2 strategies that he’s referring to are when he made him captain earlier within the season after which the choice to depart him out of the beginning line-up.
It was an open admission that – maybe in contrast to his predecessor Stefano Pioli – he was able to attempt fairly combative kinds of man-management for the great of the staff, somewhat than simply settle for inconsistency.
Frustration boils over
For a lot of, the Fonseca interview that stood out got here not too long ago after the Champions League recreation in opposition to Pink Star. It was a recreation that Milan really received, nevertheless it was arduous work and the coach knew it.
Fonseca took difficulty with the perspective that he noticed from his staff, particularly in a second half which noticed them give up a lead and discover it tough to ascertain dominance in opposition to – with respect – an inferior staff on paper.
“I’m uninterested in scuffling with these items, I’m not happy with the staff’s efficiency. The issue is that our staff is a curler coaster. Immediately we’re advantageous, tomorrow I don’t know. It’s like tossing a coin and ready to see what occurs. It’s virtually spectacular.
“I do know that I work every single day to organize the staff, to do effectively. I don’t know if everybody within the staff can say the identical. We had the duty to reach as we speak and do all the things to win the match. And we didn’t do it.”
We really did together with who they have been geared toward, additionally predicting the adjustments that might come after such because the benching of Theo Hernandez.
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The privilege and the strain
We’re going to cheat just a little on this final level and choose two quotes, beginning with the one uttered . Fonseca was requested what satisfies him most about his work at Milan thus far, plus what he needs to enhance.
“There are various issues that depart me happy for the time being. You see the expansion of the gamers, it is extremely necessary to me. I wish to win, I would like titles. However watching the individuals who work with me develop is the factor that offers me essentially the most pleasure.
“I’ve gamers who give me this pleasure. After that, being coach of Milan is one thing that I feel every single day is a privilege. The issues that I’m not completely happy with I can not say (smiles).
“Then there are the issues on a person stage and on a collective stage, however I don’t wish to say them. However they’re there. If someday I get there then I’ll come right here and I can say it. However as we speak I’m nonetheless just a little removed from what I would really like.”
Earlier than that, after the Fiorentina defeat and earlier than the Udinese residence recreation, he was requested a somewhat ahead query: ‘Are you having fun with your self?’
“I want to have extra enjoyable. Being a coach, not solely right here, will not be a really enjoyable factor. We’ve moments. I feel at this stage it’s tough to all the time be with a smile in your face. It’s not straightforward. However I do know one factor: I deliver my ardour every single day.
“I wouldn’t change my job for anybody else. It’s not as a result of I’ve more cash, however as a result of I like what I do. It’s tough, it is usually tough for our households. I attempt to get residence and neglect my career, however it’s not straightforward. I’ve many tough moments but in addition moments that I take pleasure in.
“I feel being a coach presently doesn’t make you the happiest individual on this planet every single day. Being a coach at this stage signifies that we’ve issues every single day, however once you remedy considered one of them then comes nice happiness.”
The weird ending
The information relating to Fonseca’s possible departure dropped simply , which made for a really unusual state of affairs. Issues obtained much more weird after the ultimate whistle because the supervisor confronted the press within the normal post-match convention.
When requested concerning the rumours, the Portuguese supervisor made it clear that he anticipated to be in control of the staff for the Supercoppa Italiana. The journalists, at the moment, evidently knew greater than him and a membership can by no means be run like that.
“I haven’t spoken to anybody, I don’t know something and I can’t remark as a result of nothing occurred. If I really feel my job is protected? I haven’t talked to anybody.
“Do I feel I will probably be Milan’s coach for the Supercoppa? I’ve no indicators of the opposite. Tomorrow, I’m able to work. Conceicao? What can I say? I’m not right here to touch upon issues that I don’t know to be true, I can’t do this.”
Then, following a gathering with the administration at San Siro, Fonseca exited the stadium and confirmed to the journalists current that he had been sacked. He took all the things with grace and deserves a variety of credit score for that, indubitably.
“I’ve left Milan. That’s life, that’s how it’s. I’ve a transparent conscience, I did all the things I might do.”
It was a weird ending to Fonseca’s tenure on the membership, no query about it, and the administration definitely might have dealt with issues higher.
