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Paulo Fonsecathe Rossoneri coach, has been present since 2.30pm at the press conference at Milanello to present tomorrow’s match between Hellas Verona and Milan, valid for the seventeenth matchday of Serie A.
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2.33pm | The conference begins.
Tomorrow is an important match and it’s not a cliché…
“Since I arrived here, every match I say is important. But why are they all important. Tomorrow’s difficult match, but as always we worked to win it.”
How is Theo?
“As I always do, we talked. His situation is easy to explain: Theo has played a lot, he hasn’t found the best physical condition, he needs to renew his condition to feel good. It’s very important for us. It’s never a punishment that is out, it’s simply making sure he can get back to being the best full-back in the world.”
How’s the locker room?
“I know how things are, you don’t watch the training sessions. Maybe one of these days we’ll invite you to see the atmosphere of the team. There’s a beautiful atmosphere and when it’s like that it’s easier to work. I’ve never felt the team without trust, without desire to work, with sadness”.
But the climate outside isn’t the best…
“We all understand the fans’ situation. There is no one who wants to win more than us. The boys are strong, they understand the fans. What we can do is work honestly to change the situations, to get the results that the fans deserve it.”
What rating do you give your team so far?
“I can’t do this exercise, it wouldn’t be right: I see things one way, others another. I’m here, I work here every day and it’s better not to play this game. I haven’t looked at anything, but the opinions of others must be respected. We can improve the results a lot.”
What do you expect from the January transfer market?
“It’s too early to talk about it. I always talk to the club, the club pays attention to the market and, if we need it, they are ready to do it.”
How to fill the problems?
“We work by evaluating what happens in the match. We had a problem defending the area in Cagliari and we worked on it: never since that match has the team had problems in the area. But then there are other problems depending on the match For the short time we have, we are trying to improve on the mistakes made in the previous match. And for me the team has improved many things. It’s true that the results don’t show it, but what is the match in which we had tactical organization problems? Or what was the match in which the opponents were very better than us? I don’t remember, maybe Liverpool and the first month. There were other things that didn’t make us win, but we were never dominated. It’s a question of head, of attitude: this is the biggest problem this team. Let’s work to find a strong team spirit.”
What is his dream?
“Winning with Milan, I think about it often, every day.”
Can the fans change their minds?
“Victories bring confidence to everyone. If we win against Verona and Roma and have a good Super Cup, there is another image of the team.”
Do you feel at risk?
“No, honestly I don’t feel at risk. We’re talking about things that aren’t known. If we look at the results, it’s true. But I can’t get here and say what isn’t happening. We have a lot to do for the results, but we know what to do.”
Are the distances of the leaders just a problem of attitude?
“I don’t think it’s a tactical or technical problem. When we didn’t win, there was always talk of a head problem. For me, that’s it. During the week I looked at all the goals we conceded.”
Will Jimenez play tomorrow?
“They sent me this news. Torriani, Camarda, Bartesaghi, Zeroli, Jimenez and Liberali have already played in this team. Then I read that they are dispersed between Milan Futuro and the Prima Squadra. We are in difficulty now with the players. I said that we didn’t have any injuries, and after I spoke we had some (laughs, ed.) Camarda can play.”
Why do we see something else in the match if the week is good?
“It’s difficult to find the answer. The week is good, the atmosphere is good, the pre-match is good. When some episode happens at the start of the match the team gets conditioned. I think it’s a character problem of the team, which is not starting today we are doing everything we can to change it. The players know this, they themselves talk about it.”
Did you convey anything to the fans on a human level?
“I don’t place myself on a different side from the team. There are criticisms. I hear the boos, as do the players. But we’re all here together.”
Is it a possibility to see Abraham and Camarda together?
“I thought about this possibility at the beginning of the week. But with Morata’s situation we can’t start with two attackers.”
In his years at Roma he had more points…
“We can’t make comparisons, they are different teams and clubs.”
The conference ends here.