Sky journalist believes Milan let Fonseca down: “You don’t win in Madrid 3-1”

Sky journalist Peppe Di Stefano has shared some interesting insight on Paulo Fonseca’s time at AC Milan, suggesting he wasn’t properly backed.

Fonseca was the man that the management chose to go for as Stefano Pioli’s replacement last summer, but it did not go to plan. He left Milan after just 24 games in charge – with 12 being wins plus six draws and six defeats – and didn’t even see in the new year.

The way it was handled was messy too. Before his last game against Roma, reports emerged stating that the Portuguese might be taking charge of his final Milan match. These rumours then continued after full-time, and it came clear Sergio Conceicao would soon replace him. He lasted six months too.

‘He had ideas’

Sky correspondent Peppe Di Stefano is someone who follows Milan almost every day during training and at games. He spoke on Andrea Longoni’s Milan Hello YouTube channel, revisiting the Fonseca era, with MilanNews relaying his words.

“That was part of the confusion that was prevalent at AC Milan at the time. I think some mistakes were also made. I remember Fonseca as a great gentleman. I’m still convinced that if he’d been properly escorted, accompanied, and protected, he would have had a much greater impact,” he said.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“You don’t win that derby by chance with Gabbia’s goal after losing six, you don’t win in Madrid 3-1. There were concepts, there was something of his own. He had ideas, but there are coaches who need to be protected by a management team.

“Last year at AC Milan there was a huge management crisis. That’s why Allegri is the right man, because he’s his own manager, regardless of the arrival of someone like Igli Tare.”