Jacobelli believes Fonseca should be ‘evaluated’ at the end of the season: “Made mistakes” | OneFootball

AC Milan have started the season in a hot and cold way. However, it has been largely cold, with the Rossoneri failing to perform for large parts of the season so far.

Paulo Fonseca has faced scrutiny heavily already this season, and there is a danger that Milan are restarting an old trend by failing to silence the questions about his position. We are already in a position where confidence is up and down in the Portuguese head coach, and this presents a mental problem if nothing else.

A squad can hardly get behind a manager whose position is questioned persistently, and this message goes to the fans too. It is difficult to support a manager who does not have a secure position, and when fans are not confident in their qualities to steer the club away from trouble, it creates a negative atmosphere.

Today, Xavier Jacobelli spoke to Milan News about Fonseca’s situation among others.

Eleven points in seven Serie A matches, four defeats in nine games considering the cups. How do you assess this start for Milan?

“From the point of view of performance, it is clear how up and down it is. The victory in the derby, followed by the one against Lecce made me think of a sign of a turnaround. This was not the case, but I believe that Milan have the men, the coach, the offensive game to allow them to be protagonists and start again after the break.”

Obvious problems are emerging, so much so that Fonseca got angry in the press conference on the question of the penalty taker…

“It is important to dot the i’s on the player/coach relationship. First the blatant form of dissent by Theo and Leao in the Lazio-Milan cooling break, then the two penalties in Florence where it should have been Pulisic who kicked them but it was not.

“I believe that at this moment the important thing is that Milan, starting from the next match, give a signal of unity between players and team because I don’t like the fact that in the space of 12 days between the derby and Florence again Fonseca has been put on the grill.”

Does Fonseca deserve trust?

“I don’t share this way of judging the work of the coach. He should be evaluated at the end of the season and not after a short block of matches. True, he got off to a bad start but now there are six starts available to redress the balance.”

In Champions League the situation is zero points in two games…

“It is clear that Milan can no longer make mistakes in Europe, the important thing is that we take stock of what has happened, starting again with a great desire to relaunch because the players of value are there and the coach is very good, but when you change the technical guidance it is obvious that you need time to find a perfect harmony.”

So you relieve Fonseca of responsibility?

“It is undeniable that Fonseca also made mistakes. I didn’t understand for example, limiting myself to the match in Florence, the substitution of Pulisic, who is the most fit player in Milan.”

Do you see similarities with Tabarez’s year? A new coach, a foreigner, a shaky start. In the Uruguayan’s case, the adventure ended in December…

“Two radically different contexts. I believe that when Milan chooses a new coach, he should be given time. What I don’t like is the superficiality of the judgements.”

Specifically?

“It’s not possible that after the derby victory we go from celebrating Fonseca to saying that Fonseca is not suitable after the defeat in Florence. I believe that this coach has the right to be judged at the end of the season.

“Football teaches us that judgements are dictated by results and not only by the quality of play. Since the derby we have improved considerably, looking at the calendar I say that the match against Udinese is already a litmus test to understand the potential of this team.”

Theo Hernandez has so far distinguished himself for many questionable attitudes, most recently the expulsion that cost him a two-day disqualification. More cross than delight so far

“We are talking about a 27-year-old gentleman, French national team, one of Deschamps’ captains and in Milan playing in 2019. Theo is a lynchpin of Milan, a great decisive player in the year of the Scudetto.

“A period of low vein can happen and there can be episodes of nervousness like the one that led to his two-day disqualification. I also believe that the absolute value of the player is such that I do not question him.”

What is the reason for these difficulties? “I think it’s a period of poor condition, there is a European Championship behind us and the players are not robots. Theo if I’m not mistaken played all the matches in the final phase of Euro 2024. So it is also obvious that at the beginning of this season he is experiencing a drop in performance.

“Paradoxically I believe that this period will allow him to recharge his batteries and allow him to come back motivated. This is knowing the player, the pride and the awareness of his strength.”