The Coach’s thoughts ahead of Parma v AC Milan
Our first away fixture of the 2024/25 season is on the horizon. After the home draw against Torino, the Rossoneri are set to face an ambitious newly promoted side on matchday 2 in Serie A. Ahead of Parma v AC Milan, Coach Fonseca had the following to say during his pre-match press conference at Milanello:
THE PAST WEEK
“The lads have trained really well, but not everyone is at the same level in terms of fitness and physical condition. Some are more ready than others. Reijnders and Theo are closer to reaching peak condition compared to Fofana and Royal. Fofana trained on his own for a long time and, like Emerson, needs time to understand our way of playing.”
CHOICES IN ATTACK
“Noah will start tomorrow because I think it’ll be a different game compared to Torino. We’ll need to press differently high up the pitch, and Okafor has responded excellently during the week. Given his characteristics, it could be the game for him. Luka will be useful as an option off the bench. It’ll be a difficult match, and we’ll need everyone.”
MORATA
“Álvaro has a small problem which didn’t show up in the tests he underwent. Against Torino, we were unsure about whether to start him or not. We didn’t take the risk and were cautious. He wanted to play longer but featured for 30 minutes. When a player comes in late, and you need to play them, it’s somewhat of a problem. I think we’ve managed the situation well, but we have encountered this small problem.”
WHERE TO IMPROVE
“It’s clear that we need to play differently to how we did in the first half against Torino. Whoever we’re playing at San Siro, we can’t afford to give teams as much space as we did last Saturday. I think we improved in the second half, but need to be more consistent. We can’t just gift 45 minutes to our opponents. It’s time to understand where we can improve. If we don’t immediately grasp what kind of game awaits us, it’ll become difficult. In order to win in Parma, you need to do more than just play: you also need to fight and know how to dig in. It’s a match where we’ll need to be more aggressive in defence, which is something we’ve worked on during the week.”
PARMA
“They have a strong identity that they’ve built over time. They’re a very aggressive side in defence and able to counter well. Their wingers are a threat, and we’ll need to be attentive in our build-up play, not losing the ball and giving them space to hit us on the break.”
OUR YOUNGSTERS
“We’re taking a keen interest in them, and they played during pre-season, which, however, is a different situation. They possess quality, but we need to choose the right moment to insert them and create the conditions for them to succeed. I don’t think it’s the right moment to create pressure. When the right opportunity arrives, we’ll play them.”
TRANSFER MARKET
“I think the Club has done a great job in terms of signings so far. A team like AC Milan is always looking for opportunities to improve, and we’ll see what happens. I don’t know what will happen from now until the end of the market.”
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
“Teams are always unfinished products. The season has just kicked off, and we’re focusing on how we can improve. We had a very positive pre-season where we played different kinds of matches and there were positive signs. Against Torino, we took a step back in certain moments. I want to raise the level of the team and ensure it can express itself on a consistent basis. We’ll follow our path with confidence and focus, aware that there is a lot to work on and improve. Every day, I become increasingly confident in this team.”
