It is only week 3 and Fonseca is already feeling the pressure. Losing to Parma in week 2, combined with strange line up choices made by the coach, have brought intense pressure on the coach and indeed the whole team. The summer transfer market has been just as frustrating, more on that below.
Prediction, as late as a few hours before this match, has both Leao and Theo on the bench. This is surprising and telling. Neither has been on form very early this 2024-2025 season but the possibility being replaced by Terracciano and Chukwueze is risky at best. The aforementioned loss to Parma showed unpreparedness all across the pitch but perhaps Fofana and Emerson Royal might improve while getting Milan starts. The back four and midfield showed that they will struggle while the team holds a highline. Speed and concentration are points to watch while Fonseca and Milan try to prevent the new season from going south. Tomori and Pavlovic will complete the back four. The latter newcomer was perhaps the only out of the whole who came out of the week 2 match with positives. His physicality and ability to stop opponents will prove invaluable. Partnering Fofana should be Reijnders. Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek will partner Chukwueze behind Okafor. Loftus-Cheek is another player to watch as the season moves forward. The coach has expressed confidence in the English player but his performance and even his best position is questionable. Is he a more attacking player? He is almost certainly not suited for the double pivot of the 4-2-3-1. Morata’s early injury has put another dent in the hopes for the new season but he should be back after the international break that follows this match.
It is normal that Milan is linked with a multitude of players for them to go elsewhere. This summer was no exception. Despite assurances by Gerry Cardinale that the team is able and willing to spend big little transpired. Ibra perhaps promised less than the team owner but he too is deserving of criticism. The summer transfer window ended with Morata, Pavlovic, Fofana and Emerson Royal arriving for an outlay of €66 million. Plus Alex Jimenez was bought from Real Madrid for another €5 million (with a Real buyback clause). Late in the window Tammy Abraham arrived from Roma in a paid loan and swap wit Roma with Saelesmakers. It is questionable if these players fill all the voids on the team but more expensive – and presumably and arguably better – players were rumoured and went elsewhere.
Perhaps the bigger source of frustration, at least for this writer, is how the team managed the outgoing market. Not the first time for Milan. A total of nine players were sent on loan. If all nine return next summer, which is at least somewhat likely, this is a big postponement of player management. Adli, Saelesmakers, Lazetic, Vasquez, Colombo, Pellegrino, Romero, Pobega and Kalulu all exited the team, likely to return. Kalulu’s loan move to Juventus was perhaps the most surprising and arguably weakens the team while directly benefiting a close rival.
Lazio have a new coach, Marco Baroni, and have started the season with their own struggles. The Biancocelesti lost to Udinese after opening the season beating re-promoted Venezia.
Follow this match and more, on the forums.
