Yahoo Sports GdS: ‘Like Giampaolo’s numbers’ – Milan seem without a ‘soul’ under Fonseca
AC Milan have been left dissecting yet another defeat in a big game, and comparisons have been drawn between Paulo Fonseca’s start and that of Marco Giampaolo.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report how the numbers say that Milan have returned to the pre-rebirth era, the years of Vincezo Montella, Gennaro Gattuso and Marco Giampaolo by being 11 points off top spot so early in the campaign.
In the 2017-18 season, with Montella on the bench, Milan were 12 points behind the leaders after ten games. In 2018-19, with Gattuso, it was -10. In 2019-20, with Giampaolo, it was -13. Under Stefano Pioli, everything was different.
In 2020-21 during the lockdown-affected season Milan were five points clear at the top. In 2021-22, the year of the Scudetto, Milan were joint-top alongside Napoli. In 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Rossoneri were three points behind.
There are certainly many factors, not one, and one of the main ones emerged strongly against Napoli: the team are too soft. Milan are not clinical and focused, they get distracted, they concede goals and they do not seize moments in games.
Fonseca’s messages instead talk about style of play and possession; almost never about fighting, grit and determination. It’s his way of coaching and perhaps he is doing right not to change his nature, but the team doesn’t have those values. There are no strong leaders, and no one to guide when the heart rate rises.
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At the back Milan concede goals and chances: they are fifth for goals conceded and expected goals conceded. The centre-back pairing is a concern because Matteo Gabbia is irreplaceable and he could miss the next three games, leaving Thiaw, Tomori and Pavlovic who too often make serious mistakes.
Milan are not in a full-blown crisis like Roma for example, especially because we saw good things against Napoli, but the picture is sad. The Rossoneri have lost three of the last five games, five out of 12 in total, and the impression today is that they are heading towards a season of ups and downs.
Fourth place is the only realistic domestic objective. Inter are stronger and more battle-hardened, while Napoli do not play as well but have Antonio Conte, who has imposed clear discipline and defensive attention. Milan, in comparison, are not yet a team.
The players must take some responsibility, too. Rafael Leao is the most obvious case, a complex mix of motivations, relationship with the coach and public criticism. Yunus Musah and Noah Okafor must find consistency, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Theo Hernandez have played two and a half months well below their level.
Several players at times seem disinterested, never or almost never with the fire of a champion. While off the field the club celebrate the prosperity of the accounts, on the field the team are continuing to suffer and the fans only have so much patience.
