CM: Defensive nightmare remains for Milan – what Fonseca is doing that doesn’t help | OneFootball

Paulo Fonseca was keen to stress after the win over Slovan Bratislava that the win is what counts, and yet even he cannot ignore AC Milan’s defensive woes.

As Calciomercato.com report, the most recent win in the Champions League – the third in a row in the competition – confirmed that Milan’s defensive problems remain. The issue of goal difference must be taken into account when thinking about getting into the top eight, with respect to Slovan Bratislava.

From Stefano Pioli to Fonseca, there is a common denominator: defensive fragility. From man-to-man marking in open play to a high defensive line, there have been different methods finding the same unsatisfactory results.

“These are difficult things to explain. On the corner kick we have three players back, it is difficult to explain because they are not tactical issues, but it is a question of reading, of preventive marking,” Fonseca said after the game.

“If we attack, the defenders must move up and prepare for preventive marking. We were too far away.” Fonseca believes it is an individual problem rather than a collective issue, even if he did then mention improvements have been made compared to last season.

There seems to be a real issue with the approach when Milan take the lead, as seen last night but also in Cagliari too, among other games where the Rossoneri have been pegged back. A team that has already conceded 22 goals in this first part of the season cannot remain competitive and fight for trophies.

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Furthermore, Fonseca has backtracked: until the beginning of October he was stressing the need to find a starting defensive pairing, only to then change the two centre-backs basically every game. The result is that he has not given certainty to a team that really needs it.

After four months of work, the situation could and should have been different and the management are disappointed. The Portuguese coach is expected focus more strongly on the Thiaw-Gabbia pairing, according to what filters, and he must hope this is a strong foundation to build on.