Former AC Milan player and executive Zvonimir Boban has shared his thoughts on the current state of the club in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Boban expressed concerns about the team’s tactical approach under new manager Paulo Fonseca and questioned some of the club’s recent decisions.
Regarding Fonseca’s tactics, Boban stated, “Unfortunately, we’re still in court, but for me, Milan is always Milan. I greatly respect Fonseca’s work at Shakhtar, Lille, and his start at Roma. He’s just arrived in Milan and needs time, but what worries me is that he hasn’t yet realized that this team can and must only play with a 4-3-3 formation.”
Boban elaborated on the midfield situation, saying, “Reijnders can’t play in a two-man midfield, and Loftus isn’t creative enough to play as a number ten. They are both box-to-box midfielders, ball carriers, not true playmakers. Fonseca is at the beginning, he’s intelligent, and I hope he can correct this because beyond the results, the problem is the play, which currently doesn’t exist.”
Addressing the recent incident involving Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao, Boban commented, “They made a mistake and then changed the game. I hope everything gets sorted out; they’re good lads.”
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s new role at the club, Boban expressed some confusion: “Zlatan is a genius, and I’ll thank him for life because, out of love for Milan, he agreed to return, changing the recent history of Milan and all of us. That said, now I don’t understand what he does, what his responsibilities and competencies are to be able to judge him. I hope he has understood them because, in the end, he will be the one judged, not Moncada.”
Boban was particularly critical of the club’s recent transfer strategy, stating, “The fact remains that the Scudetto-winning team and Champions League semi-finalist has been imprudently dismantled. So much could have been built on those foundations. For me, it was a glaring error.”
Finally, Boban mentioned his ongoing friendship with Paolo Maldini, saying, “I still hear from him. Paolo is a great friend and will remain so for life.”
