‘Like Giampaolo’s numbers’ – Milan seem without a ‘soul’ under Fonseca

AC Milan have been left dissecting yet another defeat in a big game, and comparisons have been drawn between Paulo Fonseca’s start and that of Marco Giampaolo.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report how the numbers say that Milan have returned to the pre-rebirth era, the years of Vincezo Montella, Gennaro Gattuso and Marco Giampaolo by being 11 points off top spot so early in the campaign.

In the 2017-18 season, with Montella on the bench, Milan were 12 points behind the leaders after ten games. In 2018-19, with Gattuso, it was -10. In 2019-20, with Giampaolo, it was -13. Under Stefano Pioli, everything was different.

In 2020-21 during the lockdown-affected season Milan were five points clear at the top. In 2021-22, the year of the Scudetto, Milan were joint-top alongside Napoli. In 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Rossoneri were three points behind.

There are certainly many factors, not one, and one of the main ones emerged strongly against Napoli: the team are too soft. Milan are not clinical and focused, they get distracted, they concede goals and they do not seize moments in games.

Fonseca’s messages instead talk about style of play and possession; almost never about fighting, grit and determination. It’s his way of coaching and perhaps he is doing right not to change his nature, but the team doesn’t have those values. There are no strong leaders, and no one to guide when the heart rate rises.