Milan coach Paulo Fonseca is delighted with the team’s attitude and reveals the Rossoneri starting XI for their home Champions League game against Club Brugge.
Fonseca didn’t only reveal that Rafael Leao would return to Milan’s starting XI tomorrow but also announced the entire lineup at a press conference on Monday.
“Mike [Maignan], Emerson, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo; Fofana, Loftus, Tijji [Reijnders], Rafa [Leao], Pulisic, Morata,” Fonseca said.
The Portuguese coach had left Leao, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham on the bench for a Serie A game against Udinese on Saturday, explaining that the team was “more important” than any player.
However, both Leao and Tomori will start against Brugge tomorrow, while Abraham is out of action due to a shoulder injury.
“I feel we are reaching things that will be useful to the team,” continued Fonseca.
“We saw important and nice things in the opening 30 minutes against Udinese. I expected more consistency, but it wasn’t easy after the red card to Tijji. It’s a significant growth, and I hope this attitude is the norm in the future. With this attitude, we can build other things.”
Fonseca delighted with Milan’s attitude, reveals starting XI vs Club Brugge
Theo Hernandez was serving the first of a two-match ban in Serie A on Saturday but is available in the Champions League. Will be the vice-captain?
“I haven’t thought about it,” admitted Fonseca.
“It’s a possibility because he feels well and trained well. He has great experience and he’s fit.”
Was the attitude of Youssouf Fofana and Alvaro Morata particularly impressive on Saturday?
“It’s hard to talk just about them when many players worked hard together. Fofana and Pulisic put in excellent performances, but all players were crucial, also those introduced from the bench,” said Fonseca.
“There is an important feeling. I think everyone was at a high level. It must be the norm for those who play for Milan.”
Francesco Camarda has joined the first team with Abraham and Jovic injured (the latter is also not part of Milan’s UEFA list).
“Normally we always have solutions in that role. Now we have Camarda and we strongly believe in him. I don’t think we need more players in this position,” said Fonseca.
Milan lost their opening two Champions League games, so what’s their objective in the competition?
“I don’t think about the long-term future. We didn’t win the first two, so we must focus on the next one. We must think only about the next game,” Fonseca concluded.