AC Milan are facing their most challenging period under Paulo Fonseca’s management as they prepare to face Verona at the Marcantonio Bentegodi on Friday. The Portuguese coach will be without eight key players due to injuries, making this away fixture particularly crucial following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Genoa at home, which coincided with the club’s 125th-anniversary celebrations and sparked fan protests.
This injury crisis is particularly striking given that just 20 days ago, the technical staff was highlighting Milan’s injury record as a positive outlier in the league. On November 29, ahead of the 3-0 victory against Empoli, Fonseca proudly stated in a press conference: “We’re happy because we have almost no injuries. You journalists don’t talk about it, but it’s very positive. And it’s like this also because we’ve managed player rotations well.”
However, since then, the injury list has grown significantly. While Morata has managed to return, Milan will be without Jovic, Pulisic, Okafor, Zeroli, Loftus-Cheek, and Musah for the Verona match, in addition to long-term absentees Bennacer and Florenzi. Each player has a different recovery timeline, and their return dates vary.
This sudden surge in injuries has put Fonseca’s squad management under scrutiny, especially given his earlier comments about the team’s injury-free status. As Milan navigates this difficult period, the pressure mounts on Fonseca to find solutions and maintain the team’s competitiveness in Serie A.
The situation is further complicated by the fans’ growing discontent, as evidenced by the recent protests targeting the team, coach, and management. With eight key players sidelined, Fonseca faces a significant challenge in fielding a competitive team against Verona, a match that has become crucial for maintaining morale and staying in touch with the league leaders.
