Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham, longtime friends since their Chelsea Academy days, find themselves in hot water at AC Milan following a recent match against Fiorentina. The English duo’s actions during a penalty kick have drawn criticism from manager Paulo Fonseca and may result in both players being benched for the upcoming home game against Udinese.
Calciomercato report how during the match at Artemio Franchi, Abraham missed a penalty after Tomori handed him the ball, bypassing the designated penalty taker, Christian Pulisic. This act of disobedience left Fonseca visibly upset, stating post-match, “I’m furious. Christian is our penalty taker. I don’t know why the players changed this. I’ve already said it will never happen again.”
The incident, coupled with underwhelming performances from both players, has put their starting positions at risk. Tomori was caught out of position for Fiorentina’s second goal, while Abraham failed to create any significant chances beyond his missed penalty.
Fonseca, known for his strict stance on discipline, is likely to consider alternatives like Pavlovic and Okafor for the upcoming match. The coach’s intolerance for such behavioral issues, especially when combined with subpar performances, suggests a tough road ahead for the English pair.
However, Tomori and Abraham have an opportunity to redeem themselves during the international break, as neither has been called up for England duty. They will remain at Milanello, where Fonseca can closely monitor their progress and attitude.
Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that the two players have already had a frank discussion with Fonseca at Milanello, aiming to establish a clear understanding moving forward. The onus is now on Abraham and Tomori to earn back their manager’s trust by adhering to his instructions and improving their performances on the pitch.
