Fonseca: “The substitutes changed the game, no specific problem with Leão, this is just the beginning for Camarda” | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

Paulo Fonseca was unhappy with the performance of Milan in the first half against Club Brugge despite winning, and discussed the performances of Rafael Leão and Francesco Camarda.

Milan got their first Champions League win of the season last night, beating Club Brugge 3-1 at Stadio San Siro.

However, things hardly went smoothly for the Rossoneri: in the first 30 minutes of the game, Brugge were a lot more dangerous and forced Mike Maignan to make some excellent saves. But in the 34′ minute, Milan took the lead as Christian Pulisic scored an Olimpico from the corner spot. Six minutes later, Raphael Onyedika got sent off after a tackle of Tijjani Reijnders, leaving Brugge in 10 men.

In the second half, Milan struggled despite being a man up, and Brugge equalized through Kyriani Sabbe in the 51′ minute. Coach Fonseca decided to make changes, introducing Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze to the game to replace Rafael Leão and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 60′ minute. Less than a minute later, Okafor found Reijnders in the box with a great assist to make it 2-1 and then in the 71′ minute Chukwueze assisted Tijjani’s second and Milan took control.

Francesco Camarda came on in the 75′ minute to replace Álvaro Morata, becoming the youngest Italian ever to play in the Champions League. He even scored a goal, but it was disallowed for offside.

Milan players celebrating at the end of Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

“I think Camarda and the team would have deserved this moment,” Fonseca told Sky Italia after the match. “I’m sorry for the disallowed goal because it was a very beautiful moment for a young man who deserves to be a part of this group and who has worked hard to have this opportunity. I’m sorry but he will score many goals in the future. He shouldn’t be disappointed – this is just the beginning and he will score a lot.”

What did you think of the performance?“I think we played a game without intensity, moving the ball around too slowly and we didn’t understand how to do it against a team that was good at defending low. When Okafor and Chukwueze came on the game changed, they brought more energy and the team regained intensity. After the second goal we did very good things, we were playing without intensity beforehand.”

Leão was subbed out after 60 minutes…“There is no specific problem with him. The substitution is not a punishment, we needed Okafor and Chukwueze. It must be seen as normal, Rafa must see it as normal and work to be able to help the team like all the players.”

Rafael Leão during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

In numerical superiority, wasn’t it possible to attack them a bit more?“This was our intention already in 11 against 11. We have to do better. I think we weren’t aggressive until the second goal. After that, yes, but we have to be a more aggressive team.”

Chukwueze entered well, it seems he’s doing better as a substitute…“I think we improved with the entry of Okafor and Chukwueze, but we improved a lot when Pulisic went to play more inside and not as a winger. To be honest, Pulisic as a winger doesn’t have the preponderance that he has when he plays inside and when we changed that then the team was different.”

Next match with Chukwueze-Pulisic-Okafor from the first minute?“Maybe. I am going to think about it. I have to say that I haven’t studied Bologna yet. I’ll be studying them and then we’ll decide who the best players to face them are.”

Christian Pulisic scoring during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Speaking to MilanTV, Fonseca said: “After the second goal, we played really well. We played with the intensity that we needed. I think we deserved to win the game. The 3 points are really important. It’s a shame we didn’t get that 4th goal through Camarda [smiles]. It was an amazing moment. A big moment for the fans. He’ll score a lot of goals in the future, I’m sure of that. It was a big moment. Even with the VAR review, it was a great moment for him, the team and the fans.

“The substitutes made the difference. Okafor, Chukwu, Musah looked good coming on too, Malick as well. And Camarda did well too. It’s not because Camarda scored, but what I liked most about Camarda is his courage and the way he works for the team: how he defends, how he presses. I like him. Today, once again, the players who came on helped the team so much.

“Now I’ll start thinking about our next game. It’ll be a difficult game. We know Bologna is a tough place to go. We need to start thinking about recovery, because there’s not much time, and about preparing the team.”

Francesco Camarda replacing Álvaro Morata during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Portuguese also held a post-match press conference: “The credit goes to the players and mainly to those who came on who changed the game, changing the way we play and our intensity.”

The victory is good but you can’t be satisfied with the first half…“Obviously, in the first half we didn’t do things well. We were against a team with 11 players low on the pitch, then in numerical inferiority they were even lower. And we had difficulties in this of game in creating and taking advantage of spaces. Then, when we don’t find the right solution, the game starts to be too slow. When we don’t find spaces, we need to have a different kind of intensity in our actions. We didn’t do well. The game was too slow. I think it was a problem of understanding the game.”

Milan players celebrating during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

What do you think of Leão’s match?“Offensively, in the first half Leão did important things for the team. Then I decided to replace him, as I decided to replace Loftus-Cheek. But for me this is normal. I wanted to be more incisive, more energetic. For me there is no problem.”

It was Camarda’s Champions League debut…“I’m very sorry for the disallowed goal. But it was a great moment for the team – all celebrating on the pitch with a kid who works so hard. Camarda will have many opportunities to score more goals during his career.”

What has changed in Okafor and Chukwueze?“Confidence. They played a good match against Udinese.”

Paulo Fonseca and Francesco Camarda at the end of Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

What is going on with Loftus-Cheek?“Under me he has played as an 8, as a 10 and today as a trequartista on the right. Loftus is a player who can accelerate with the ball at his feet; when he is without space then he has more difficulty. But it’s not that he is afraid – those are his characteristics. We need to make him understand certain things better. He works hard, always, he gives everything for the team. I’m sorry he hasn’t been at the level at which I know he can play.”

Should Camarda be kept in the first team?“Mister [Daniele] Bonera, Mister [Federico] Guidi and I do our best to help the youngsters grow. We have Morata, Abraham and Jović – it becomes a bit difficult for Camarda to play. And at this age it is important to play. What we do is try to give him more space to improve, between the Primavera, Milan Futuro and the Prima Squadra. Sometimes it is more difficult to play in Serie C than in Serie A, and vice-versa. When he trains with us, he does very well. Today he worked well for the team, with courage. He doesn’t seem like a boy of his age when he plays.”