AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has confirmed that Yunus Musah will begin towards Atalanta, previewing a tactically difficult recreation in Bergamo.
Spirits are excessive after Milan received their final three video games throughout three competitions towards Slovan Bratislava, Empoli and Sassuolo. They scored 12 objectives within the course of together with , permitting three.
Nevertheless, Atalanta with respect to the aforementioned sides. For the reason that begin of October they’ve received eight on the spin to rise into second, whereas they’re additionally fifth within the Champions League.
The outcomes converse for themselves: 5-1 towards Genoa, 6-1 towards Verona, 3-0 towards Napoli away from house and most just lately a 2-0 win at Roma. If the Rossoneri are to get a consequence, they must increase their recreation once more.
Fonseca spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello for his pre-match press convention on the eve of the sport. transcribed the questions and his responses.
Atalanta are arising, and everybody considers it an ‘uncomfortable’ match. However it’s most likely Milan’s greatest second because you arrived, too…
“I believe it’s by no means an excellent time to face Atalanta (laughs). Sure, we’re rising, the workforce is assured. We all know that going through them is all the time troublesome, 8 wins within the final 8 video games, they’ve scored 26 objectives and conceded solely 4.
“They’re a really robust workforce. Will probably be a really troublesome match however we’re prepared, we’re assured to play towards Atalanta.”
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Are Milan a workforce much less in hassle and fewer apprehensive?
“I agree. I believe this comes so much from the best way they defends as a workforce, it brings confidence and stability. 3-4 video games in the past you possibly can really feel some defensive discouragement, right now not. Right now I believe the workforce are comfy defensively. This then brings confidence to assault.”
To a international coach like your self, what do Atalanta respresent?
“We haven’t seen a workforce play like this, man to man, for a very long time. Soccer is like life: cyclical. Gasperini was a pioneer in enjoying like this. Now everybody in Europe is conscious that it’s troublesome to face groups like Atalanta.
“There are various groups that observe the identical mannequin as Atalanta. The opposite day I used to be an article written in Germany, there are lots of groups that play like this now.
“Bayern performs like this, Stuttgart too… They adopted the concepts of Atalanta and Gasperini. Their method of enjoying is some extent of reference at a global degree.”
Is that this a decisive match to seek out the true turning level on this season?
“I believe the workforce doesn’t want this match to pay attention to what they’re doing. It’s an essential match however not decisive for me. It could possibly carry many constructive issues to the workforce. Successful towards Atalanta would carry confidence for the long run.”
Is it a crash take a look at of types for the defensive part?
“The workforce is assured within the defensive second now. It’s an awesome take a look at, Atalanta are actually robust offensively. They create so much. Will probably be an excellent take a look at for us, not just for the defensive position however for a way the entire workforce defends.”
Milan will face off towards Charles De Ketelaere once more…
“Perhaps he’s tailored extra to a unique method of enjoying. However I don’t need to speak in regards to the Atalanta gamers, I believe their most essential factor is the collective. And they’re very robust.”
Do you outline your self as a contemporary, progressive coach who is aware of find out how to shock? How are you becoming into this actuality in Italy?
“I don’t like to speak about myself. It’s important to speak about me. What I can say is that I really feel very superb in Italy, it’s very stimulating for a international coach. Right here it’s completely different, it’s extra stimulating to be right here and discover a completely different method of seeing issues.
“Serie A is clearly completely different for me. Previously few days I used to be speaking to my workers and I used to be saying that solely by being right here are you able to perceive how completely different it’s. Coaches who aren’t right here don’t have the precise thought of what Serie A is like and what it brings to a coach.
“Successful right here could be very very troublesome. The large European groups now have the possibility to face Italian groups. Let’s have a look at the outcomes. How are they doing? So take into consideration going through Italian groups each week. It’s troublesome.”
What’s so troublesome?
“The best way many groups defend right here is completely different. I’m 100% positive that going through a workforce that performs man-to-man is tougher than going through a workforce that performs zonal.
“Then there’s the physicality, the best way of defending. Discovering house right here in Italy will not be simple. If you happen to speak about depth, England is extra intense however right here it’s completely different.”
Is tomorrow’s match essentially the most tactically troublesome for Milan this season? Do you propose to make use of Musah on the best once more?
“Sure, Musah will play tomorrow. I believe now we have ready nicely for the match. The match might be tactical. It is vitally simple to know how Atalanta performs. It’s simple to say that they do that, this and this.
“However it’s troublesome to counter them, as a result of they do it very nicely. Offensively and defensively. However I believe we’re ready to play towards Atalanta.”
Is a draw an excellent consequence tomorrow?
“I all the time take into consideration successful, I don’t take into consideration this chance. Earlier than the matches in my head I solely have one consequence: to win. I don’t need to take into consideration different outcomes.”
Which Atalanta recreation did you present the workforce?
“None. I confirmed conditions and pictures.”
Pep Guardiola stated that going through Atalanta is like going to the dentist…
“I perceive completely what Pep stated. It’s actually a recreation of sacrifice, dedication, angle. He says that as a result of possibly he goes to the dentist every year. However right here (in Italy) I’m going to the dentist each week, it’s regular. Empoli, possibly they’ve completely different high quality, however the best way they play is similar.”
You’ve got by no means received towards Gasperini. Is there a need for revenge?
“I’ve no particular need to beat Gasperini. I’m the primary to say that he’s distinctive. We should recognise the work he’s doing, it’s nice. I’ve nice admiration for Gasperini, there may be nothing private.
“I need to win tomorrow like all the opposite matches, I’ve nothing private to show. We should all recognise the advantage of others, I recognise the advantage of Gasperini.”
We’re getting the impression of a modified Leao. Are you happy are you together with his progress in angle? Have you ever discovered find out how to stimulate him?
“It’s the fact, it’s not an impression. I believe Rafa nonetheless has room to enhance. He’s completed nicely within the final matches, additionally when it comes to defensive angle. Am I completely happy? No. He has the flexibility to do higher. Rafa’s head should be set on doing higher.
“He’s scored 5 objectives, he will need to have in his head to attain 20. When now we have the flexibility we should anticipate so much from ourselves. He should be bold to all the time do higher. He’s on the best path however he should not cease now.”
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Is Chukwueze rising defensively too?
“Two video games in the past I bear in mind I spoke about Chukwu. He’s adapting nicely. Once we want this function on the best he’s progressing. There isn’t any drawback with him. Do we expect he’s stronger defensively than Musah? No. However he can play this function in some video games.”
Do Milan should impose their enjoying ideas on others to be thought-about nice?
“The video games right now are very strategic. We don’t change the ideas of the sport. We’re not a man-to-man workforce, I received’t play like that towards Atalanta. However we will make some strategic changes.
“We need to have this attacking initiative towards all groups, however the recreation towards Atalanta will not be a recreation during which groups can have nice attacking initiative. The place will this recreation be determined? It isn’t close to the Atalanta objective.”
What has happy you essentially the most about your work at Milan thus far? What’s the factor that also doesn’t fulfill you?
“There are various issues that go away me happy for the time being. You see the expansion of the gamers, it is extremely essential to me. I need to win, I would like titles. However watching the individuals who work with me develop is the factor that offers me essentially the most pleasure.
“I’ve gamers who give me this pleasure. After that, being coach of Milan is one thing that day by day I believe is a privilege. The issues that I’m not completely happy with I can’t say (smiles).
“Then there are the issues on a person degree and on a collective degree, however I don’t need to say them. However they’re there. If at some point I get there then I’ll come right here and I can say it. However right now I’m nonetheless just a little removed from what I would really like.”
Are you able to give us just a little damage replace? How are Bennacer, Loftus, Sportiello?
“Bennacer is extra good-looking, he modified his haircut (laughs). Bodily he’s superb, it was a pleasure to see him once more. We’re happy.
“He wants a while to work within the workforce, I believe he’s within the closing a part of the work earlier than beginning with the group. The others, even Sportiello and Loftus, are all superb.”