Contrary to reports doing the rounds that have suggested otherwise, the AC Milan management do not consider the next three games decisive for Paulo Fonseca’s fate.
There has been speculation which has claimed that Milan’s upcoming trio of games against Venezia, Liverpool and Inter are ones which Fonseca cannot afford a mistake in if he is to keep his job, and that his position will be evaluated after them.
However, La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports that while a turnaround is needed, the match tonight against Venezia plus the debut in the Champions League and the first derby of the season again Inter are not considered other real tests of stability.
The belief is that against Liverpool – who have been dominant in the Premier League for a while now – anyone could tremble, while the Nerazzurri at present remain a more experienced team than the new Milan which is still being tested.
The club believe it is too early to make judgements. In the summer Fonseca was chosen because he was deemed capable of working with young players and enhancing their talent, assigning a technical identity to the team and a spirit to the group.
At the gates of autumn it would be hasty to issue verdicts in their eyes. Of course, the final say would still be up to the owners, in particular Gerry Cardinale who will be observing very closely this evening from the stands.
Fonseca is aware of the club’s trust but is also realistic, as he stated in his press conference yesterday: “The coaches depend on the results. I’m always under scrutiny, but I remain focused only on my work, it can’t be otherwise. If I focus on what others say and write it becomes difficult to work. We all have to improve.”
The first Milan victory is more fundamental than ever because in the last 65 years only once – the 1997-98 season – have they remained without a win in their first four games. The coach’s last success in Serie A was on 15 May 2021, 1218 days ago.
The fans are more impatient that the leadership, with the thoughts of the Curva Sud summarised in a social post published yesterday: “We invite all the Rossoneri people to meet at 6.45 pm in front of the bus entrance ramp, to make the club, coach and players understand that September represents an already decisive crossroads for our season.”
Among the more than 70,000 people at San Siro there will be the president Paolo Scaroni, forced to skip the meeting with the council yesterday for personal reasons. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be there, as he is involved in a professional course lasting two weeks. He’ll be back tomorrow.
