Yahoo Sports GdS: Milan at an early-season crossroads – the faults are not only Fonseca’s
It would be fair to label AC Milan’s beginning to the 2024-25 season as a ‘false start’ with just one point from six available obtained under Paulo Fonseca.
La Gazzetta dello Sport speaks of a crossroads approaching on Saturday night against Lazio, a game in which Milan cannot afford to take another misstep. Dropping more points – let alone a defeat – would risk opening up a big gap to the teams at the top such as Juventus and Inter.
We know well how important it is to start off on the right foot because the psychological aspect could be even more destabilising than the arithmetic one. The Rossoneri started with the ambition – honestly and proudly flaunted by the coach – of wanting to aim for the Scudetto, but that feels tough at present.
Milan have what it takes to avoid all this, to take the right direction and leave behind this difficult start. However, the discussion – perhaps more outside than inside the club – focused on Paulo Fonseca’s faults.
He certainly has some to answer for, as he himself admitted, such as the fact that his team seemed too disconnected which contributed to the continued poor defensive record after a disastrous 2023-24 under Stefano Pioli.
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However, there are things that the club must answer for as well. The report states that another striker is needed, better than the current alternatives are not good enough and today’s savings could in fact become tomorrow’s regrets.
There is a collective responsibility to dig deep and correct the course. Everyone must give one more run, one more thrust and one more recovery to support a team-mate in difficulty. Starting with the big names – Theo and Leao to be clear – there can no longer be any excuses for anyone.
The first crossroads is there and – even if we are only in the third round – the season and the league table does not wait for anyone. Milan need to turn the page and fast.
