In the press conference on the eve of Milan-Empoli, Paulo Fonseca was keen to underline two things about his work. Actually three. But let’s go in order. The first: “Why do I always change central defenders? It’s clear that I have a more stable pair than others. But we also have to understand that we have many games, we can’t play with the same ones. Gabbia was injured, he played one match after the injury it was difficult to get him to play another one.” So: there has been a clear improvement compared to the Pioli era.
The defensive problems
The second: “We won in Bratislava, but we had defensive problems that I can’t close my eyes to. We talked about it and worked on it. I have to say, however, that we are the fifth defense in the championship, we suffered fewer than Atalanta – clarifies the coach – and the same as Inter and Lazio. We are making a monster out of a problem. We want to work, we are working for this. In Bratislava the error is not tactical but in reading the moment, individual technique. We won, everything is fine ? No.” So: Milan has problems in defense and Fonseca knows it, he is working on it.
Milan’s probable lineup
The third is the best team fielded by Milan this year, that of Madrid. Even with Empoli, Fonseca will propose the same eleven as the “Santiago Bernabeu”. Maignan in goal, four-man defense with Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw and Theo Hernanden. Fofana and Reijnders in midfield plus Musah on the attacking midfield line, completed by Pulisic and Leao. In front of Morata.