Fonseca claims derby win is ‘special’ in ‘difficult moment’: “Victory of unity”

After delivering a tactical masterclass against Inter, AC Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca spoke to the media about the importance of the victory and the reasoning for his approach. 

Milan started the season poorly, and the pressure has very quickly been rising for the Portuguese manager to the point where many expected the derby to be Fonseca’s last in charge unless the Rossoneri won.

In this case, pressure makes diamonds.

With the dial above 10, Fonseca remained calm, and his tactics won the Diavolo their first derby in 250 days. A fantastic feat, a well-deserved feat. His side played with courage, and they played with the intelligence which trickled down from their coach.

After a difficult game in Manchester, the Portuguese coach knew that the hosts would struggle with the intensity that the Rossoneri could deliver, and scoring a late winner is the perfect summary of this.

Following the game, Fonseca spoke to Milan TV about the victory and the road forward, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.

Group is the watchword this evening…

“Yes, I think you said it all. I think winning the derby is always special, especially after not doing it in the last six. However, I think it is a victory of unity because even in a difficult moment we remained united. When we believe in something we have to work, and that’s what we’ve all done so far. The championship has just started, and we have a lot to improve on, but today, especially the players and the fans, deserve this joy.”

Happy with the way the team approached the match?

“I think we played well. If I think we can improve, it’s because we can. I am satisfied because the players never tried not to do what we prepared. This week we talked, the players had a great week and today it showed. And I think we played as a team in all the movements. I am satisfied.

Obviously today will be a different day, but from tomorrow we have to be balanced again and work on the next game.”

Will we see the 4-4-2 again tonight?
“Yes. We have already started with this system since we played with Venezia. Today Morata played the trequartista as Tijji had done, but the module was the same. We changed something, it’s true, especially in the possession phase with Fofana, but everything else we kept the same as in Venice.

“We improved some things defensively. We have to improve, however, in the last choices, because in the first and second we missed some, and important chances against teams like Inter don’t happen often.”