After the disappointment of the performance against Juventus, the Champions League returns for Milan and below we present the entire press conference of Paulo Fonseca, who hopes to relive an evening like the one against Real Madrid.
Is there a risk of underestimating the match?
“I expect not. We talked about how important it is to win tomorrow. It’s important for us to have the right attitude to win, we can’t underestimate Slovan.”
Can Leao rest?
“I don’t know, we’ll see tomorrow. Rafa is fine. I have faith in all my players, I will obviously put the team to win. It’s a possibility that Leao doesn’t play, how is it possible that he plays.”
Milan is showing us that even a gala evening, like against Juventus, can go less well. Have you understood who the real Milan is at this moment of the season?
“What I know at the moment is that against the big teams we have been a team that has done well and that has done less well against the “small” ones. We work to be a team with the attitude and ambitions shown against the great teams, we work to always be the same team.”
Doesn’t the Champions League have a different interpretation of small teams?
“Yes, I think so. The Champions League is the Champions League. Everyone likes being in these matches, the motivation is greater. I expect them to be able to play the Champions League tomorrow with this motivation.”
How did you see the team after Juventus?
“We are aware of what we have done well and what we have done less well. We have done several things less well. The dimension of things in Milan seems different to me. I watch matches like the one on Saturday every weekend, it seems that a draw seems a defeat for Milan, while a victory for other teams. The important thing is that the team is well.”
Do you expect a team with fire inside tomorrow?
“Today we talked about how important the Champions League can be for us with these matches. I think we have the chance to win them. We talked among ourselves about how important winning tomorrow is for the future of our team in the competition. We must have this ambition and motivation Always”.
Fofana is the most used outfield player this season. Can you rest tomorrow?
“Now we’ll get to the hotel, he’ll have time to rest and be ready for tomorrow (he smiles, ed.). No, at the moment it’s difficult to get Fofana to rest.”
How did Emerson take the boos? Is there a chance to see Calabria again?
“Emerson has had a sprained ankle, he hasn’t trained these days, Calabria will play. It’s an opportunity for Davide to show that he is ready to help the team. I haven’t spoken to Emerson about the whistles. What I always say is that It’s normal, it’s our profession. They’re the same people who applauded other times. We have to do everything we can to get the fans on our side again.”
What do you think about Bratislava and Slovan?
“It’s a beautiful city, it’s a pleasure to see it. I know Slovan Bratislava well, I drew them here with one of my teams. It’s a physical team, if we don’t have the right attitude it will be difficult.”
You were here a year ago, in the meantime have you seen any Slovan matches?
“Yes, now there are other players. The most important ones, however, have remained, it’s not a very different team from the one I faced.”
After three months, Paulo Fonseca’s Milan still doesn’t have an identity. What does she have to say?
“I respect opinions. I can’t speak concretely about who speaks and how they speak, I don’t look. But I respect them. I think it’s not right, it’s not totally right to say something like that. If we look at the results in the championship I understand that we could have done much better. If we understand everything that this process was then I say that it is not fair. We can then look at the growth process and say that this is not fair and I respect that of others.”