Yahoo Sports Bonera discusses ‘big responsibility’ with Milan Futuro and need for ‘more experience’
The new Milan Futuro head coach Daniele Bonera spoke about what he hopes to achieve with the project and how he plans to develop the players of the future.
The idea of Milan registering an U23 team in Serie C was spoken about for months, but the necessary green light only came a couple of weeks ago when Ancona failed to register for next season and thus a spot freed up.
Since then various aspects of how the team will operate have been outlined, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s role as an overseer, Jovan Kirovski becoming the technical director, the players involved and that Bonera will coach them.
This morning, the club decided to hold a press conference in which Ibrahimovic spoke alongside Bonera regarding the plans for Milan Futuro and the aims, both in the short-term and the long-term. MilanNews relayed the comments of the latter.
Thinking back to your first days at Milanello, what emotions do you have?
“There is great satisfaction and great pride. There are many similarities to my path as a footballer or as a collaborator. Maybe I have a few grey hairs… Now we start to really work and I have a great sense of responsibility that I will bring to work with the boys, for their growth and to bring as much as possible to the first team.”
What kind of team will be set up? Will there be some experienced players too?
“We have identified some profiles. We are making some evaluations, especially from the point of view of human depth: we need players who can give us a hand technically but also make the younger players understand what Serie C means. There will be difficulties but I am well supported on this path.”
Will you try to use the same system as Fonseca?
“When this project was presented to me, I had the pleasure of sharing with Zlatan the growth of the profiles: there are talented players who need to be built. They need to grow mentally and as men. It will be a total synergy also from a tactical point of view with Fonseca, there will be a daily exchange of players with the first team.”
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Have you spoken to Gerry Cardinale?
“I have a direct line with Zlatan, with Jovan and with all the people who work at Milan Futuro. My references at the moment are them”
Have you spoken to Fonseca, and if so what kind of person did you encounter?
“Through Zlatan we preferred to speak face to face on Monday, then we have two weeks before the tour in America. We will have a lot of time to be together.”
Do you plan to follow the same preparation or even training methods as the first team?
“I prefer to talk about it on Monday. There will be a synergy also from the point of view of preparation but then it is normal that I will have to do my part. I have learned something and will try to put it into practice: however the tactical and preparation line will be shared.”
Camarda is the emblem of Milan for the present and future, will you want to put these guys in contact with experienced players? And what sense of responsibility is there in coaching such a talked-about player?
“This responsibility towards Francesco is shared by everyone, from the ownership down. It is clear that his name is making noise but I have to help him grow as well as many of the boys who have already touched the first team. I am calm, because the company input is to help the boys grow.
“We will have no problem supporting Camarda in everything and for everyone for his growth as a footballer: he has a long way to go and we will support him. Jovan has an extraordinary path and he, like his teammates, will have all the attention of the club.”
What do you think of being in Group B and Milan’s opponents?
“I saw the draw for the group. In the last month and a half I went to personally watch Serie C matches, I saw many teams. I was amazed by the intensity, the physical impact, I tried to imagine the guys competing. In the group there are clubs with a historic past, it won’t be easy and we will have to be good at shortening the apprenticeship times and understanding where we are.”
Ignazio Abate left the club and you will face him next season [with Ternana], have you spoken since?
“I haven’t heard from him lately but we’ve always seen each other here at Milanello. There’s always been synergy. Fate wanted us to meet right away and it will be a pleasure for us to hear from each other soon and then see each other.”
Is there an opportunity to introduce more Italian players into the first team?
“Yes, this is a discussion that requires a lot of thought. I think it’s an opportunity to train Italians who can then be aggregated. But they always identify talent and a player profile that meets the demands of the first team, regardless of nationality.”
What is your impression of Atalanta U23, and the prospect of facing experienced coaches like Baldini (Lecco), Stellone, Carrera etc.?
“I did the UEFA Pro course with Baldini and I’m glad I will see him again. For me it is a great opportunity and it is a path that sees me as a protagonist after a five-year apprenticeship. I have written down my ideas and my projects.
“Big responsibility. Watching the matches live you realise that the difference between Serie C and Primavera is very impactful from a physical point of view. We will need some guys with more experience to give us a hand.”
