How Paulo Fonseca prepared for the incredible Milan derby at the weekend | OneFootball

“Milan is red” for AC Milan who faced Inter Milan last Sunday and beat them 2-1. After the Derby della Madonnina victory, all fans rightly wondered what the future holds for current AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca.

What does the future hold for Fonseca?

Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was trying to dispel rumours of a possible departure from the club, with many fans seeing the match against Inter as the Portuguese coach’s last hope. He said before the game:

“I do not think my future depends on the result of the match against Inter. The most important thing is the team and how we play. I focused on what I can control, which is my work. The team and the game are the most important.

Everyone is very frustrated with the results, but we know that we are united to get out of this situation. The team understands this. At the moment, we are working together to learn and grow.

“I will go to the derby with great self-confidence. The truth is that the last three days of work have been fantastic. That is why I am going into the match with self-confidence and faith in the future.

“I am 51 years old. If I had to listen to what people say or write, I would not be able to work. I do not care about their opinion, it is not important to me what people say.

“Is there anything I would not do again? No. I do what I believe in. I still believe that with my players we can achieve a lot.”

Important Changes Before the Game

But what did Fonseca and the players say to each other before the game? What exactly happened?

Three main things seemed to make a difference, starting with embracing the new approach to the team and embracing their thoughts, as he did in the team meeting on Wednesday before the game. The second was the barbecue on Friday to raise the team’s spirit. The third was the bold decision to change the system and field Matteo Gabbia and Tammy Abraham from the first minute.

“That” Wednesday Meeting

Let’s talk about that meeting a little bit more. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Portuguese coach said the decisive moment was the face-to-face meeting with the team on Wednesday. In 90 minutes, he focused on self-respect and the team responded very well. Gabbia’s words and Morata’s embrace are his guarantees for the future.

Paulo Fonseca and the players talked a lot about tactics during those 90 minutes, less about emotions. Fonseca’s staff had prepared clips from previous matches to establish the basic concepts, with a strong basic idea of ​​also showing successful plays, the right moves, good solutions and decisions by the team during the games.

The message was clear. He said: “We are not the team in difficulties that everyone sees from the outside. Of course, everyone at Milanello knew they had made a lot of mistakes, clips of mistakes obviously existed. However, they also knew Milan were a strong team.”

Fonseca said that from that day on he saw a different group. Wednesday’s training session began immediately after that meeting and left a good impression.

Full Support from His Team

Matteo Gabbia, MVP of that game, chose a very strong phrase on Sunday evening. “Until the last day we have Fonseca, we will follow him to the death.” He could have expressed his closeness in many ways, but he chose these exact words.

Alvaro Morata, when Gabbia turned the ball of his life into the goal, he hugged his coach, not his teammates. Emerson Royal, a short distance away, did the same. A coach who does not have his team’s support would not be celebrated like this.

Happy Ending?

According to recent news, Milan’s convincing performance and victory in the derby with Inter have completely changed the perception of the new coach’s work in the club. Paulo Fonseca gained the trust of the Milan board after a spectacular derby win over Inter.

The Portuguese coach not only triumphed over his local rivals but also demonstrated bold tactical decisions that were met with the approval of the club’s authorities. His preparation for the match and the way he united the team made the management once again see him as the right person for the position of coach, capable of achieving long-term goals.

Nargiz Mammadzada | GIFN