GdS: His staff, elegance and surprising Milanello decision – Fonseca at 360 degrees | OneFootball

Milan’s new era has officially begun as Paulo Fonseca landed in the city yesterday. Today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (see photo below) has taken stock of the situation at ‘360 degrees’, stating that this new era starts from enthusiasm and elegance.

Fonseca got off his private jet with a huge smile and gave thumbs up to the journalists present outside Malpensa Airport. Enthusiasm and elegance are what the new Milan needs, per the pink newspapers: momentum to start again to conquer the second star and a style that represents it.

‘Dominant’, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic described Fonseca’s playing style, and his work ethic will be along the same lines. Until he finds a home in or near Milano, the manager will live at the training ground at Milanello, requesting no hotel or other accommodation (which managers/players usually do).

Work starts tomorrow

Fosneca’s flight landed early at Malpensa and he was eager to get started, quickly saying ‘Forza Milan’ before jumping into the car for Milanello. When he arrived at the latter, he immediately looked the part with the new training shorts and shirt.

Along with his staff, he got a guided tour of the gym, pitches, clubhouse, and restaurant complex as well as a first lunch. He will have his own office, as expected, and his room will initially be his home. These rooms are usually only used on the eve of the game, being far from flashy.

Tomorrow, he will be at Casa Milan for his first press conference as Milan manager and the club will be close to him. From CEO Giorgio Furlani to the technical director Geoffrey Moncada, as well as the advisor Ibrahimovic, they will all be present.

As for the staff, Fonseca has brought the following with him: Tiago Leal (assistant coach), Paulo Ferreira and Paulo Mourao (technical collaborators), Antonio Ferreira (goalkeeping coach) and Nelson Duarte (match analyst). The team will also work with Giorgio Tenca and Igor Quaia, other match analysts, Filippo Nardi (athletic trainer) and Tony Roberts, another goalkeeper coach.

Waiting for a No.9

The Raduno is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and while it will be a special day for Fonseca, the Curva Sud will not be present. The atmosphere will thus be less lively for the manager and his players, but this is due to the reduced squad and a lack of signings.

The Curva Sud did, however, express their full support for Fonseca and also stated that they will welcome the team another day. ‘In the meantime, we wait confidently,’ the statement read and Milan can thus breathe a sigh of relief.

Having said that, the Rossoneri are in no hurry and will conduct the business on their terms. An offer has been made for Tottenham’s Emerson Royal but there is a €10m difference between that and the price tag, while Alvaro Morata must decide whether to give his green light or not.

The strategy appears to be that an experienced No.9 will arrive, who can be ready immediately, and if not Morata then that might be Romelu Lukaku. It remains to be seen, as such, if Milan also intend to sign a young striker.