AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca addressed the media ahead of their crucial match against Atalanta on Friday. The Portuguese coach shared insights on team tactics, player performances, and his admiration for Atalanta’s style of play.
Fonseca acknowledged the challenge of facing Atalanta, stating, “It’s never a good time to play against them. We’re improving, but facing them is always difficult. They’ve won 8 in a row, scoring 26 goals and conceding only 4. They’re very strong. It will be extremely difficult, but we’re ready and confident.”
Regarding Milan’s recent defensive improvements, Fonseca agreed with the observation: “It depends a lot on how the team defends, which brings confidence and stability. A few games ago, there was some discouragement in the defensive phase, but not now. Today the team is doing well at the back, and this gives confidence going forward as well.”
When asked about Atalanta’s unique playing style, Fonseca praised Gasperini’s influence: “Man-to-man marking hadn’t been seen for a long time. Football is cyclical. Gasperini was one of the first to do this, and now everyone in Europe knows how difficult it is to face Atalanta. There are many teams following Atalanta’s model now.”
Fonseca confirmed that Yunus Musah will start in the upcoming match: “Yes, Musah will play tomorrow. We’ve prepared well for the game; it will be tactical. It’s very easy to understand how Atalanta plays, but it’s not easy to counter them because they do it very well.”
On Rafael Leao’s recent performances, Fonseca expressed both satisfaction and a desire for more: “He still has room for improvement, and in recent games, he’s done well defensively too. I’m not completely satisfied because he can do better, and his mind must be focused on that. He’s scored 5 goals; he should aim for at least 20. He must be ambitious to always do better. He’s on the right path, but he mustn’t stop.”
Fonseca also shared his thoughts on coaching in Italy: “It’s very stimulating for a foreign coach. Only by being here can you understand how different Serie A is. Winning here is very, very difficult. Think about facing Italian teams every week: it’s challenging.”
In conclusion, Fonseca expressed his admiration for Atalanta’s coach: “Gasperini is unique, and we must recognize the work he’s doing. I admire him a lot; there’s nothing personal. I want to win all games, including tomorrow, but I have nothing personal to prove. We must all recognize the merits of others, and I recognize Gasperini’s merits.”
