Ahead of AC Milan’s Serie A match against Parma, manager Paulo Fonseca addressed the media in a pre-match press conference. The Portuguese tactician provided insights into team selection, player fitness, and tactical approaches for the upcoming fixture.
Fonseca confirmed that Noah Okafor will start in place of the injured Alvaro Morata, stating, “I must be honest, tomorrow Okafor will play. It will be a different match. We want to have a different ability to play high compared to Saturday against Torino. Okafor has given good responses during the week, and the characteristics of the match suit his qualities well.”
Regarding the integration of new players, Fonseca expressed satisfaction with the week’s training sessions. He noted that players are at different fitness levels, with some closer to peak condition than others. The manager highlighted Reijnders and Theo as nearing their best form, while newcomers Emerson and Fofana require more time to reach optimal fitness.
Fonseca emphasized the need for a different approach compared to their previous match against Torino. He stated, “Milan cannot afford, against all teams, to leave them an initial phase of build-up as Torino had. For this, I want a different team. I think we improved a lot in the second half. But we must be consistent, we cannot turn on only for 5 minutes.”
The manager also addressed questions about young talent, particularly regarding Camarda’s potential involvement. Fonseca stressed the importance of timing in introducing young players, saying, “We must create the conditions for them to have success: this is not the moment to create this pressure on young players.”
Discussing tactical aspects, Fonseca touched on Rafael Leao’s positioning, suggesting that the Portuguese winger should move closer to the goal when the ball is on the opposite side. He expects a challenging match against Parma, describing them as a team that “runs and fights a lot.”
Fonseca remained open to potential market opportunities but praised the club’s work in transfers so far. He reiterated the importance of Leao to the team, echoing recent statements from the club’s CEO.
