Legendary Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi believes the clubs needs to give new manager Paulo Fonseca time to implement his ideas on the team. The Rossoneri are winless after three rounds of Serie A, with some reports suggesting that Fonseca’s time at the club is already under scrutiny. Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi explained why he thinks patience is needed in order to see the best from the Portuguese coach, while singling out Rafael Leao, who has to ‘work’:
“The third matchday of the championship has revealed an important thing: Inter is doing very well. Not only because they won 4-0 against Atalanta, but because they showed excellent maneuvers when in possession of the ball. Simone Inzaghi’s players still need to improve when they are in the defensive phase: they drop too deep, don’t press, and in this way bring opponents to the edge of the area. This can be a dangerous choice, especially when facing teams with great champions who can decide the match with a simple play.
In my opinion, however, when the Nerazzurri were controlling the action, they deserved a 10 out of 10 rating. If they add some pressing to this quality, I think they can reach 100 percent of their potential. Atalanta, beyond the four goals conceded, seemed to me a team penalized by injuries and market operations. Gasperini is a master and I’m sure he will know how to straighten the ship and take it far.
Juventus, against Roma, was less brilliant compared to previous performances. I believe that both the Bianconeri and the Giallorossi had a bit of mutual fear. That’s understandable, especially at this point in the season. I greatly respect Thiago Motta and De Rossi and I’m sure they will do an excellent job. They have ideas and courage, and at times it was seen last night too. I repeat: respect and fear were brakes for both. The proof is that the teams unbalanced very little and almost never shot on goal.
The two faces of the Rossoneri- The coach’s choices must be respected
Milan at the Olimpico provided a performance with two faces. Let me explain: in the first half I saw a more compact team compared to previous games and, even if some elements are not yet in condition, they managed to play at a decent rhythm. In the second half, however, Milan unraveled, there were no longer the right distances between departments, everyone was going around the field on their own, and that’s not good. So, improvements in the first part and usual defects in the second. Where the truth lies we will only discover with the next tests.
I don’t think it’s right to crucify Fonseca: let’s leave him to work in peace and then we can formulate a more balanced judgment. If the directors chose him, they must have had their good reasons. You can’t fail a professional after three games: it’s unfair and, above all, incorrect. To build a house takes time, brick by brick. Mistakes can be made, corrections are made and at the end of the work conclusions are drawn.
The case concerning Theo Hernandez and Leao has caused quite a stir. I don’t know the dynamics within the group and I don’t allow myself to judge. However, I say that the coach’s choices, even when they are believed to be wrong, must always be respected by the players. Fonseca is there to give a soul and a game to the team, if he kept Theo and Leao out he must have thought about it a lot: coaches don’t compile formations randomly. As for Leao, I say this: he’s a boy who has great qualities, but doesn’t always manage to show them. He needs to work a lot to make that quality leap that everyone expects from him.”
