MILAN ROME FONSECA INTERVIEW – All the declarations of the Giallorossi coach Paulo Fonseca on the occasion of Milan-Roma, match valid for the 28th day of A league.
Fonseca to DAZN
The difference came in the second half, what motivation can it be?
We had a good first half, balanced, without great intensity but we checked. In the second half it is true that after 10 minutes Milan pressed higher but without creating opportunities, some shots out. Afterwards we gave the game with the same situation as Sampdoria, then it is too difficult to recover. In the second part we gave things without justification.
After this game, does anything change in your beliefs?
No, we have to work. We have to win the next game, it’s the most important thing.
In the second half you struggled, one of his dogmas is ball possession. So we asked ourselves why this drop between the first and second half?
The truth is that even in the second half Milan did not create many situations, we almost always checked the situations. I only remember one shot from outside, but it is true that the boys were shorter and struggled to get out. Here physical capacity has greatly influenced. Let’s not forget that they had 7 days to prepare and it’s their third game, it’s not an excuse, it’s the truth. We lost the ball two or three times without reaction but I think that even in these situations you cannot give goals as we did in the other game. And it is true that in this beginning the teams do not create many scoring situations, and when it is not created and we give away, it is more difficult afterwards.
What worries you from here to the end of the championship?
Especially the physical issue, we don’t have much time to recover. We will be playing in two days and maintaining regularity is difficult when we change many players. But we are ready and prepared to fight to the end.
How much did the situation of Smalling and Mkhitaryan that are about to expire affect your head?
I’m not worried and neither are the players. They will play these months in the league and I don’t think there are doubts about it.
Fonseca in Rome TV
A good first half then you failed to give continuity … what happened?
We had a good first half, we checked without conceding situations to Milan. We have Dzeko’s chance to change the game and we have had many situations to decide better. In the second half Milan pressed harder, started playing better, more responsive. We didn’t create opportunities. We have repeatedly given the game, even against Sampdoria. Now that not much is created when we make mistakes this way it is more difficult. In the second half the team was physically unresponsive, unavailable. But without allowing many situations. After the first goal it’s all more difficult.
His is an offensive football, so why do you often play backwards with decisive errors?
Difficult to explain, with strong pressure I can understand. But these two goals we have taken, there is no pressure on the ball carrier, difficult to explain.
Milan played with the same 11 players, she changed 6 and then 5 … what’s important? Continuity or change?
It is Milan’s third game, they had more days than us before playing and this makes the difference. The first game against Samp had a very strong physical impact on everyone, it was impossible not to change for today, as it will be for the next. It is now difficult to manage the teams that can keep the same players, they have an advantage. It is not our case right now after Sampdoria. The first game had a big impact on the players. Whoever played the other was very tired in the second half, in this heat it is too difficult.
This Rome only brings out anger and malice when it is in trouble …
It wasn’t a matter of attitude, but we can do more. We can run and fight more at certain times. The team was calm, with confidence and control in the game. When we suffer such a goal it is difficult, with many substitutions.
Team grown in the second half against Samp, but today we disunited and made many mistakes … did you lack a bit of competitive malice?
Maybe, but the players know it’s an important game, that it was important to win. In the second half the team felt the pressure of Milan and we did not react in the best way. I expected more from the substitutions, the team did not find a way to do better.
Fonseca at a press conference
Why the replacement of Dzeko?
He was clearly tired, he had played the whole other game. Even Mkhitaryan. Physical collapse? AC Milan was cooler in the second half. This is our second game, the first one had a big impact, that’s why I changed several players. We took the goal for a physical matter, I think we gave it. We gave the game away. Even at that moment AC Milan created almost nothing to score.
