Yahoo Sports CM: ‘Now or never’ – Fonseca and Ibrahimovic disagree over Jimenez’s role
Alex Jimenez’s situation at AC Milan continues to arouse mystery, and he could get a big opportunity tomorrow against Genoa.
As Calciomercato.com write, there is a feeling of ‘now or never’ regarding Jimenez. With Paulo Fonseca thinking of leaving Theo Hernandez out of the starting lineup for the Genoa game, the Spaniard is the natural replacement.
Or rather, he should be, because so far he has not played a single minute for the first team this season. Indeed, the favourite to take Theo’s place on the left side of the defence is actually Filippo Terracciano.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his thoughts clear on the 19-year-old in the summer, stating: “Theo’s deputy will be Jimenez.” Fonseca does not share the same opinion, having had him as an unused substitute on three occasions in the league, against Inter, Lecce and Fiorentina.
Up until now, Milan Futuro has been Jimenez’s arena while Fonseca has used Terracciano several times in the deputy left-back role. Jimenez will be permanently promoted to the first team, but for the coach he is further down the pecking order.
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The management of Alex Jimenez is a factor that highlights the difference in views between Ibrahimovic and Fonseca: the manager goes one way, the coach the other. At least that’s how it seems.
A signal even arrived in mid-August, when – on the eve of Milan vs. Torino – Fonseca said the incoming business was done and the Swede replied as follows: “The coach is the coach, the club does the rest. The market closes when I say so.”
A few days later Tammy Abraham would arrive, in exchange for Alexis Saelemaekers, who the coach appreciated. Jimenez meanwhile wants to demonstrate his value, Zlatan pushes to have him play and Fonseca uses Terracciano, all while Valencia rumours lurk.
