Fonseca defends decision to avoid XI rotation: “I have faith in all players”

Since AC Milan bounced back, Paulo Fonseca has more or less relied on the same starters, seemingly referring to the usual saying ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’. During today’s press conference, the manager explained why he has made these choices. 

Gazzetta dello Sport reported yesterday that Milan are the side that has the least rotation since the last international break. Fonseca has only used 14 players for the starting XI, while city rivals Inter have had 20 different starters in the same period.

Naturally, Fonseca was asked about the lack of rotation during today’s press conference, as Milan will take on Fiorentina tomorrow. He stated that the team needed continuity in a difficult period and that the other players will get their chances eventually.

Since the derby, apart from the Loftus-Morata change against Leverkusen, you have always fielded the same XI…

“Continuity is important at this time, when we have more days to recover the players. If the team is doing well, it’s important to keep as many players as we can, but it’s not that I don’t have faith in the others: Loftus and Chukwueze for example have come in well and are working well. For me, it’s important at this time to have this base that supports the growth of the team.”

You have always fielded the same 11-12 players, shouldn’t we start warming up the others like Chukwueze and Okafor?

“Let’s see the moment of the team and the players. At this moment I thought it was important to have this continuity. Let’s see, I have faith in all the players. We will have many games, we will need everyone. At this moment I think it’s important for the team to play with the same players.”

Strahinja Pavlovic is an example of a player who has lost his spot in the starting XI, while the likes of Samuel Chukwueze and Noah Okafor also will be looking to increase their minutes moving forward. Tomorrow, however, the usual starting XI will be fielded.