Legendary AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has come to the defense of his successor Paulo Fonseca, while acknowledging that there is still much work to be done. Sacchi addressed the stark contrast between Milan’s performances in Madrid and Cagliari, telling Gazzetta dello Sport:
“What is the real version of Milan? The one we admired in Madrid, where they gave a stunning performance, or the rather confused one we saw on Saturday in Cagliari? It’s legitimate to ask this question, given that within a few days we’ve seen two completely different films, and people are wondering which one is the official one. My impression is that the truth, as often happens, lies somewhere in the middle.”
Sacchi emphasized the need for patience in building a solid, balanced, and winning team, acknowledging that miracles don’t happen overnight. He praised Milan’s courage in Madrid but expressed concern about defensive lapses in Cagliari.
Regarding the criticism of Fonseca for starting 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, Sacchi defended the decision: “He showed courage, and courage always pays off in the long run.” However, he conceded that the criticism of Milan’s defensive setup in Cagliari was warranted.
Sacchi also raised an important question about player recruitment: “Were all the players available to Fonseca chosen by the coach, or did he ‘accept’ them and now has to manage them?” He stressed the importance of the coach having a say in player selection, recalling his own experience with Berlusconi at Milan.
On Rafael Leão’s return to form, Sacchi cautioned: “I’m waiting for the next matches: he has many qualities, dribbling and speed in wide spaces, we need to see if he will always be able to showcase them.”
