Yahoo Sports Capello believes there is ‘something wrong’ at Milan and Theo has issues ‘away from football’
Former AC Milan head coach Fabio Capello has shared his thoughts on Paulo Fonseca’s outburst following Wednesday’s win over Red Star.
The post-match rant that Fonseca went on after the game have generated plenty of headlines, as he appeared to take aim at some individuals who he does not believe are giving their all for the cause.
The coach has made it clear on several occasions that he expects an improvement in attitude, such as when he spoke after the win over Real Madrid and admitted he was worried about getting the team fired up to face Cagliari a few days later.
Fonseca thinks the team is strong but wants more commitment, more dedication and more concentration from some players, especially in games that might not seem as big as others.
Capello was interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport to talk about the dark cloud that looms over Milan despite the win in midweek, especially after Fonseca took aim at the team.
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What do you think of Fonseca’s words?
“Yes, he used strong words but it is clear that there is something wrong in the team. He does not seem to feel at ease, his goal is to make the players responsible.
“But the main thing to understand is one… Are the players not following Fonseca, playing only the games they consider important such as the away match at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, or are there tactical ideas that are not shared?
“In the first case, the club should intervene and make their support felt for the Portuguese coach. In the second, mediation would be needed from a team leader, and in that case too, he should side with the coach, dragging the rest of the dressing room to their side.
“My doubt is this. I am certain that they are all in question. Seeing it from the outside, without experiencing the atmosphere inside the dressing room, taking sides is impossible.”
Has this happened to you in the past?
“Yes. Especially when I returned to Milan in the 1997-98 season: the team had not been built by me and above all I did not see the right spirit.”
What is wrong with Theo Hernandez?
“Unseen things are happening at Milan. It could be that the French left back has problems away from football, he is in a moment like that. If it was a whim, it would be different. But the certainty is that he is not the same Theo as last year.”
Davide Calabria has ended up in the dock too…
“He didn’t help against Red Star. As a man he seems fine, but as a captain I didn’t like at all the controversy he caused when he left the pitch when he was substituted.”
Have Francesco Camarda and Tammy Abraham set an example, as Fonseca says?
“He is completely right, because it is true that Milan is missing more players like them. The players are not performing as they should, they have little desire. When they lose the ball there is no grit in going to recover it, no aggression.”
Stefano Pioli, on the other hand, seemed to have a squad with chemistry…
“I can’t make comparisons with the past, also because the Milan coached by Pioli had a different midfield than the current one, it had a different quality. But yes, the former coach had managed to create a good group.”
How can they bounce back against Genoa?
“By running and helping each other. Everyone is in question, and the match against the Rossoblù will be a test for everyone.”
