Fonseca: “It’s a step back, we need to improve defensively, we lost 69% of the aerial duels, Theo can do better, this is the Leão we want, Camarda did well” | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca before Cagliari-Milan Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

Paulo Fonseca saw a Milan which was not aggressive enough, as they dropped points at Cagliari.

Fonseca said after the win over Real Madrid that playing in Serie A is harder than in the Champions League, and tonight’s match against Cagliari showed exactly what the coach meant by it.

Nadir Zortea (2′) scored after less than 90 seconds on the clock, but then Rafael Leão (15′, 40′) got a brace. However, Gabriele Zappa, who tormented a terrible Theo Hernández all night, equalized (53′). Fonseca made changes and substitute Tammy Abraham, who replaced 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, got a tap-in to make it 3-2 (69′). However, Zappa then found the net again with a brilliant volley (89′).

The Rossoneri struggled a great deal against Davide Nicola’s side, looked incredibly fragile in defense and conceded chances left and right. Despite leading for most of the match, Milan can consider themselves lucky to have left Sardegna Arena with a point.

Milan players at the end of Cagliari-Milan at Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

“The problem for Milan today was not offensive, but defensive,” Fonseca told DAZN. “We had major difficulties with Cagliari’s crosses. Aggression is lacking at the moment. It’s impossible to win a game against a team that only crosses and lose aerial duels. Even with a five-man backline, we lost aerial duels – we lost 69% of them. We had trouble with direct play and crosses.”

Was it a step back, and if so in what way?“Mainly in terms of the result. Offensively, we did good things. We scored 3 goals here; we shouldn’t be drawing this game. It’s a step back – we can’t concede 3 goals if we want to win.”

Is Milan’s future with a three-man midfield?“We always play with a three-man midfielder. Today we played with Reijnders, Fofana and Pulisic. That wasn’t the issue. The problem was the way we suffered. We conceded the first goal, which we shouldn’t have… yes, it was offside, but we shouldn’t have allowed it. The second goal was crazy… This is a team that crosses constantly and we weren’t aggressive enough individually and not as a unit.”

Theo Hernández during Cagliari-Milan at Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

What did you think of Theo’s performance?“He can do better defensively. We are working to correct things that are important. But the entire defensive line can do more in aerial duels and in terms of aggression. Everyone can do more.”

What did you think of Leão?“He’s in a good moment. He’s improving defensively. He has always been with the team – this is the Leão we want, a decisive Leão.”

How was Camarda?“It wasn’t easy. He did well with what he had. I’m pleased with his performance.”

Rafael Leão and Francesco Camarda celebrating during Cagliari-Milan at Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

Fonseca also held a post-match press conference: “This match is very easy to explain. We scored three goals, but we can’t concede three goals in that way. We need to work on defending crosses; we have an issue there. Cagliari won 100% of the aerial duels, and that’s not acceptable.”

Is it a small step back?“There are still a lot of points available. A great team shows its quality over time. We are improving offensively, but less so in defence.”

Are you disappointed or angry?“No, I think the team managed the game well, just less so in tackling and duels. It’s honestly hard to explain.”

Strahinja Pavlović during Cagliari-Milan at Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

There are problems that happen away from home. You concede much less at San Siro – is that just a coincidence?“We faced a team in good form, playing a direct style. We need to improve defensively; I’ll say it again.”

Who impressed you from Cagliari?“I don’t focus on my opponents. We were prepared for this kind of aggressive play. Cagliari did very well.”

Leão was a winning choice…“He understood where he needed to improve. Today he was decisive, also defending with the team.”

Tammy Abraham during Cagliari-Milan at Sardegna Arena on November 9, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

Speaking to MilanTV, Fonseca said: “I knew they would be difficult to play, they are really direct, getting into the channels and immediately putting in the cross. I knew it would be a difficult game. After scoring 3 goals, I never would have thought that would lose this game, or draw. The problem wasn’t on the attack, we did many good things up front. For me, it was a defensive issue. We lacked aggression in stopping the cross, we weren’t aggressive enough in the box. We won 9 of the 22 aerial duels. That’s a sign that we lacked aggression. Their crosses caused us problems today. Every time, because we were missing the necessary aggression and concentration. Losing 69% of the aerial duels proves we were lacking aggression.

“I didn’t think we would lose after scoring 3 goals. We can’t concede like we did. We will have to keep working to recover, there are many points to be picked up before the end of the season. It’s true that we’re still growing, mainly in attack, we’re also growing in defence. In terms of that aggression, we have to keep working.”