Ex-assistant explains why Fonseca had difficult start at Milan and predicts ‘turning point’ | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca’s former assistant Pedro Moreira believes that AC Milan’s difficult start to the season was not difficult to predict for various reasons, but that the derby victory can provide a launching point.

It looked as though Fonseca’s time at Milan could be a very short one given the amount of rumours that suggested he would be sacked if a positive result against Inter was not obtained, and now he has gone from the verge of departing to being labelled a genius by some.

It was a brilliant performance and the coach got plenty right tactically, yet the challenge now awaits to prove that it was not just a flash in the pan and can actually be the start of a positive run towards the top of the table, starting with tonight’s game against Lecce.

MilanNews conducted an interview with Pedro Moreira who was Fonseca’s assistant for nine years during various jobs, including two years at Roma. He gave his thoughts on how his friend and former colleague has started his second spell in Italy.

Fonseca got out of trouble by giving Milan an epic derby. The previous six had been losses…

“Milan played very well, I would say that the Rossoneri deserved to score the 2-1 much earlier and that the result is even narrow. Furthermore, the Rossoneri are missing a penalty. Let’s say that if it had finished 4-1 no one would have had anything to object to.”

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For a week there was nothing but talk of dismissal and possible replacements. As a coach, how do you handle such pressure?

“You have to know how to handle pressure. And above all, you have to believe in your work, football is a question of trust. Our job is to try to do the best we can with the material we have available. And to be able to convey to the team the idea of ​​our work.

“Fonseca is a very respectful coach, but he wants to win like everyone else. And what it seems to me is that the team is united. I hope that this derby gives Paulo more strength and that it is a turning point for the team.”

Probably not even Fonseca expected such a complicated start

“When you prepare without so many players, those who participated in the European Championships, it’s not easy. But if you remember in the pre-season he played quality football. Of course, this increased expectations.

“Even the busy schedule doesn’t help, because if you play so many games in a short time you don’t even have the chance to work and consequently you have problems changing. At a defensive level something is changing and above all I see a united team.”

It was said that Fonseca did not have the backing of the squad…

“The press with Fonseca was not nice, it makes me think that many people do not want these controversies to subside. And then it is too easy to talk when things are not going well. The important thing is to continue working, believe in your ideas and have patience, if they give you it. Because it takes time for your hand to be seen.

“I believe it will not take long, in the meantime I invite you to watch the celebrations after the victory in the derby, they are celebrations that show a united group, that is with the coach after a terrible week.”

Theo and Leao’s attitude during the cooling break in the Lazio game had raised alarm bells…

“A coach must try to influence the players, but sometimes the player thinks of himself first and then of the team. I would say that since then they have done well.”

Do you think Milan should continue with two strikers?

“Italian football is very strategic. And Fonseca has grown a lot with his experience in Rome. It depends on the type of match you want to play but also on the opponent. In the derby and for how Inter plays that formation was perfect, other matches are different stories.”

Will we see you back on the bench soon?

“I’ve received some offers, but I’m waiting for the right project for me.”