Why Xabi Alonso upset Milan coach Fonseca before Champions League meeting
AC Milan’s Portuguese headcoach Paulo Fonseca looks on ahead of the Italian Serie A football match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AC Milan at Ennio-Tardini Stadium in Parma, on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images
Milan coach Paulo Fonseca admitted that he was slightly frustrated by Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and his comments about the Rossoneri during the Champions League press conferences ahead of the meeting of the two sides at the BayArena on Tuesday.
Milan are on the ground in Germany ahead of their second Champions League match of the season, which will take place away at Leverkusen’s BayArena.
Why Alonso frustrated Fonseca with Milan comments
Both Alonso and Leverkusen vice-captain Jonathan Tah spoke about Italian teams and their tendency to be strong defensive-minded units.
“They are prepared to defend deep,” Alonso said, while Tah added: “Italian sides are a difficult opponent for many teams. They have a particular style of play and defend very well, we will have to be very patient.”
Fonseca, however, did not agree with that sentiment, and instead wants Milan to create their own identity, moving away from the stereotypes about Italian teams and their preference to focus on defending.
“Today I read what Xabi Alonso said. When we speak about Italian teams, we always say the same thing, that Italian sides are good at defending and playing on the counter-attack.
“I would like different things to be discussed when we talk about Milan, we have to work because we don’t want to be considered like that,” Fonseca said during his press conference on Monday evening.
“Tomorrow we will obviously have to defend, because we’re playing against a strong team, but when we have the ball, we still want to play. I am curious to see the team’s performance in what will be a different game to the ones we’ve had in Serie A.”
Despite his frustration, Fonseca has spoken in-depth recently about Milan’s need to improve on defensive elements of the game, while Rafael Leao revealed that the coach is working extra hard with him to help his game out of possession.
