Milan’s Paulo Fonseca prepares to face Roma for first time since exit

Milan manager Paulo Fonseca weighed in on tonight’s showdown against former club Roma—marking the first time he’ll face his former employers following his exit in 2021 after two seasons.

Speaking to DAZN just before kickoff, the Portuguese manager reflected on the team’s recent performance, Roma’s style of play, and the return of Theo Hernandez.

“In our last game against Verona, we had a lot of possession but didn’t attack as aggressively as we should have,” said Fonseca.

“We need to improve our decision-making in key moments. However, the team did well defensively. We’ll have to be very aware tonight given Roma prefer to play vertically.”

He added, “It’s one of the hallmarks of teams like the Giallorossi. In Italy, you don’t see teams waiting for the perfect moment to attack—most seek verticality. Here, there are teams that focus more on direct play and less on possession.”

“As for Theo, he’s always been the captain. The situation is normal. We’re working to get our players back to their best. We need the best version of Theo—I think he’s more motivated now and ready to help the team.”