Fonseca discusses Leao situation, Scudetto battle, Bologna saga and Conte history | OneFootball

Ahead of AC Milan’s clash against Napoli, Paulo Fonseca spoke about the Rossoneri’s chances of winning the Scudetto and the fans’ desire for Antonio Conte.

There is a lot on the line for Fonseca tomorrow night. If Milan were to beat Napoli, his position would be massively strengthened, given he would have beaten both of the previous Serie A winners at the first time of asking.

Additionally, it would lessen the gap between his side and the Partenopei to only five points, and considering the Rossoneri have a game in hand, there would be more confidence in his side’s ability to stay in the Scudetto race.

A loss, however, could be catastrophic. The head coach is preparing to take risks to try to beat Antonio Conte, and if these don’t pay off, an 11-point gap will form. Furthermore, given the outcry for Conte in the summer, a poor result could be a damaging blow to Fonseca’s position.

Speaking to Milan News, the Portuguese head coach admitted that he was only focused on his position as Milan’s head coach and his belief in the squad’s chances of silverware.

Napoli arrive at the San Siro full of confidence…

“They are very strong with a very strong coach. They are top, they come here very motivated. But we are also motivated to play this match. Napoli are strong, they have won games and they have won them well.”

How did you experience the uncertainty surrounding the Bologna game?

“It was a difficult moment to deal with. We didn’t know if we were playing or not, we could have trained differently if we had known we weren’t playing. It was a game we wanted to play.”

How did the team find it?

“We wanted to play also because we now have two important players suspended. The team trained well, I have confidence in all the players.”

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Camarda came on in the Champions League and did well…

“He came on and did very well, he’s a good guy. He confirmed what I think of him, he will have a great future.”

How is Leao? Will he play tomorrow?

“Today I don’t say who will play tomorrow (smiles_. Rafa has worked well, there is no case. Soon he will be back to what we all want him to be. If he will play tomorrow? I won’t say.”

Are Napoli favourites for the Scudetto?

“Right now they are in first place: they are one of the teams that can win the Scudetto.”

What’s happening with Leao?

“That the coach is not playing him, because if I played him there would be no problems. But these are normal things in football: some play, others don’t. I always think about different things when I choose. For me this is very normal.”

Are Milan in the running for the Scudetto?

“For me yes. The fans have to believe in us because we are strong and we are growing. We can fight for the Scudetto.”

Does the idea of rescheduling the match against Bologna to February distort the season?

“I don’t want to talk about Bologna anymore. Let’s just think about tomorrow, let’s look ahead.”

Can Calabria play on the left?

“He can.”

Many would have liked Conte to be the Milan coach…

“My motivation is to be the Milan coach, full stop.”

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How is the team’s growth progressing?

“Our focus is to see what we did well in previous games and what we need to improve. Tomorrow will be a different, balanced game against a team that defends very well. We have grown a lot in terms of defensive organisation.

“Offensively we are growing in possession in these last few games. Maybe tomorrow we need to play more in the last 30 metres because Napoli press high and defend with a low block. We have to improve our choice in the last 30 metres.”

Is having the asterisk in the table penalising? How do you handle it?

“For me, it is the same. Maybe it penalises those who look at the standings, it doesn’t change anything for me. I understand, however, that for the fans it is different.”

What is Pulisic’s ideal role for you?

“I like him best when he plays more inside the pitch.”

Did you see Inter vs. Juventus?

“Yes. More spectacle or more mistakes? Both.”

Why did you bring Leao off during the game against Club Brugge?

“It was a choice I made based on what I thought was needed at that moment in the game.”

Do Milan have the strength to win the Scudetto?

“Yes, we want to continue to fight to win the Scudetto. We have the strength to do so.”

Tomorrow you will have several absences…

“I have confidence in the whole group. We can’t do anything with the players who aren’t here, but with those who are. I see this as an opportunity for those who will play. I have confidence in all the players. We are a team, I don’t care whose names play. Tomorrow we have to be a team to win.”

Can Pavlovic play at left-back?

“In the national team, he plays in a three-man defence. I don’t think he has the characteristics to play full-back.”

Who do you fear most from Napoli?

“Milan and Napoli have the most decisive players on the flanks.”

Can tomorrow be the turning point?

“Victories bring victories and confidence. The growth of a team cannot depend on one game. You can have a great game, but if you lose the next one it is of little use.”

Do coaches no longer train players to defend?

“We could stand here and talk about this for two hours. If we think about Serie A, you can’t say that coaches don’t work defensively. If there is a league where you work more defensively it is Serie A. Here you work a lot on defence.

“I would like to work more, but there’s no time here as we only play three days. For me individual work is important, we work a lot on the department, but maybe the individual work is a bit lacking. The goals conceded in general come more from individual mistakes than from team mistakes.

“Today it is more difficult to attack because teams defend better. Let me give you an example, Barcelona-Bayern Munich: Bayern forward presses man on man, in midfield they don’t do it anymore. Barça scored when they defended deep. I am convinced that now they defend better than in the past.”