Reflecting on the post-match thoughts shared at the Stadio Tardini, two significant comments stand out. One is from manager Paulo Fonseca: “Did I expect all these problems? No, we had a great pre-season, but in the league, there’s been a change that’s hard to understand. We train well, but when it comes to matchday, we play like this. It’s difficult to explain.” The other comment comes from player Yunus Musah: “Sometimes I doubted whether to press or stay back.”
It’s challenging to determine which admission is more concerning: that of the coach or the player. Both remarks clearly highlight the current state of AC Milan: from the captain of the ship to its crew, everyone is struggling with uncertainty. Fonseca deserves credit for not shying away from addressing the issues directly, offering a candid analysis that few of his peers would attempt. Yet, the reality is that Milan finds itself with a coach already needing to justify his position just two games into the season.
The problems Milan faces extend beyond mere glitches or minor errors; they are fundamental flaws. Observing Milan at this moment reveals a continuation of the issues witnessed during the latter half of the previous season. The same weaknesses appear to be present, perhaps even more pronounced, and the team’s defense is currently in a state of embarrassment. Conceding four goals in two matches has become a worrying trend, reminiscent of old vulnerabilities that allowed rival teams ample opportunities to score.
Fonseca admits, “Were we out of sync in our pressing? Pressing doesn’t start with Musah; it begins higher up. Defensively we’ve performed poorly; it’s impossible to win playing like that. We didn’t defend as a unit, and individually we lost our battles. We were always late to press, leaving too much space, with poor marking.” His analysis is spot on, but what’s alarming is the coach’s inability to improve on issues that were already evident against Torino, and partially during their summer tour when impressive results masked underlying problems.
Conceding four goals to a team that isn’t a direct competitor and another that is newly promoted heightens concerns around the Rossoneri. This situation starkly contrasts Fonseca’s recent past, where he led Lille to record the most clean sheets in Ligue 1 last season. Moreover, when examining a broader context, it’s troubling to note that Milan has won just one of their last 11 competitive matches, which includes five draws and five losses, while managing to keep a clean sheet only once during this stretch. Yes, the alarm bells are ringing, and Milan finds itself in a precarious situation.