Paulo Fonseca was interviewed by the media after AC Milan’s narrow, as well as crucial, win against Hellas Verona this evening. He admitted that they could have done better, but also that he’s pleased given the circumstances.
The manager made just one change to the starting XI for tonight’s game, replacing Mattia Liberali with Filippo Terracciano, and the defensive solidity from the Genoa draw remained. In attack, however, a moment of brilliance was needed to break the deadlock.
Speaking to DAZN after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Fonseca admitted that Milan could have done a lot better in the final third. He also shared an update on Rafael Leao, who left the pitch after around 30 minutes with an injury.
You didn’t move the ball fast enough…
“I think the situation that the players feared arose in the first half. Several players were missing, we hadn’t won the last game… I think we came in a bit slow. It’s true that we didn’t concede chances, and that we had 76% possession, but we weren’t aggressive in the final third, where we made too many mistakes.
“It’s a confidence issue, but if we play a lot of balls on the edge of their area we have to do better. But without so many players, I’m satisfied with the victory, also because it’s very deserved. Another game without conceding a goal, we have to improve offensively.”
Solid at the back now…
“Yes, the centre-backs were very good. Fofana and Terracciano also played a great game. This stability is important in order to attack better. Every game we are more stable defensively.”
How is Leao?
“I spoke to Rafa now, it seems that it’s nothing special. We’ll see tomorrow. It was a precaution to take him off, he didn’t want to risk it. But it seems to me that it’s nothing special.”
How do you explain the injuries?
“Theo isn’t injured. Rafa doesn’t seem to have anything special. Pulisic arrived injured from the national team. Morata has tonsillitis. The problem we had was only with Musah and Loftus-Cheek, the others are things we cannot control.”
Roma are up next, after the Christmas break, and Fonseca should have a few more players at his disposal by then. Many problems remain, though, as tonight’s game was far from a good display by the Rossoneri.