Yahoo Sports GdS: ‘A workaholic with lungs of steel’ – why Fofana is the ‘glue’ for Fonseca’s Milan
Paulo Fonseca’s reliance on Youssouf Fofana is obvious from the number of minutes he plays, but his numbers show his importance to AC Milan.
La Gazzetta dello Sport recall what the head coach Fonseca said when recently asked about the idea of giving Fofana some time to breathe on the bench, replying: “It’s difficult to rest him at the moment.”
The Frenchman is the most used player in the squad among the outfield players with 1381 minutes across the league and the Champions League. He is ‘a workaholic with lungs of steel’ who in a few months has taken over the reins of the midfield, guaranteeing balance, strength, running and quality.
Fofana is not only a player that acts like a dam in front of the defence, but also a player capable of creating and putting his team-mates through on goal, as seen with the assists for Rafael Leao against Slovan Bratislava and for Tijjani Reijnders against Empoli.
He started out as an attacking midfielder at Strasbourg and then established himself as a central midfielder at Monaco, with tasks that were more about pushing forward and less about covering. He shared the department with AurelianTchouameni and is now doing it with Reijnders, who is the creator.
Fofana has been a starter 11 times out of 12 in Serie A, has attempted 8 dribbles (3 successful) and is 10th in pass completion (89.1%). In short, with Fofana, Milan have an additional source of ball management rather than a pure ‘destroyer’ type in front of the rearguard.
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The France international is 16th among defensive midfielders for ball recoveries, 12th for tackles per game, 21st for duels won (2.75 per game) – data that does not demonstrate his dominance in Milan’s midfield.
What is striking, however, is that Fofana enters the attacking third of the pitch 6.67 times per game (eighth among defensive midfielders), which puts him above the likes of Mario Pasalic and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. First is Locatelli with 11.15.
The attacking attitude of the Frenchman has remained from his time at Monaco (four goals and four assists in his last season with them), as playing a few metres further back is not stopping him from trying to make things happen.
Fofana has an average of 57 touches per game, the same amount as Reijnders had against against Empoli on Saturday. He is essential in both phases and there is no sign of him getting any rest, at least not until help arrives.
