The Team Is Complete, Fonseca Is Optimistic That AC Milan Can Compete In Italian Serie A

AC Milan is ready to face Torio in the first match of Serie A Italy. (X/@acmilan)

JAKARTA - AC Milan is ready to compete for the Scudetto in this season's competition. Coach Paulo Fonseca is optimistic that with a complete squad, Milan will fight even though they have to compete with defending champions Inter Milan.

Milan hopes to bring in midfielder Youssouf Fofana from Monaco. Fofana's recruitment is expected to be Milan's last piece to complete the squad. Previously, Milan had brought strikers Alvaro Morata and defender Emerson Royal and Strahinja Pavlovic.

"If he [Fofana] joins, our squad is complete. Next, we focus on facing the competition. But we will also release players. We have so many players. It's not easy to handle too many players," said Fonseca.

After completing the squad, Fonseca is optimistic that Milan can compete with strong teams. According to the former AS Roma coach, the competition in Serie A is not much different from last season. Inter are still the favorites to defend the league title.

"We're working and playing to get to the top. We can't say if we're the most likely to win the league. But we're just going to fight for the Scudetto," Fonseca said.

"Inter is the defending champion. We know their level. Juventus, Napoli and Atalanta, apart from us, also have chances to compete," he said.

Milan played their first league match against Torino. Appearing at home at the San Siro Stadium, Sunday, August 18, 2024 in the morning WIB, Fonseca, who had only handled the Rossoneri for two months, also targeted victory.

"I came to Milan at the right time in my career. The team's situation was very positive and beyond my expectations, the team has grown well," he said.

"We will look different and face tougher matches than in pre-season. But we are ready to show our real identity since the first match," said the Portuguese coach.

In the first match, Fonseca, who held a 4-2-3-1 play scheme, possibly replaced Christian Pulisic by playing in the middle. Previously, this American national team player used to occupy the position as a winger.

However, Pulisic will be positioned behind the striker. Meanwhile, according to Italian Football Rafael Leao and Samuel Chukwueze played on the wing. They support Morata as a center forward.

"Chukwueze is fit and Pulisic can be placed in the position he likes. [Luke] Jovic is also in the best condition. He played well during pre-season. Meanwhile [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek can play as attacking midfielders. We have a lot of solutions," he said.

According to Fonseca, the team is fully ready to face Torino. They will appear with great confidence.

AC Milan Lineup Forecast (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Gabbia, Tomori, Hernandez; Bennacer, Loftus-Cheek; Chukwueze, Pulisic, Leao; Morata

Torino (3-5-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Vojvoda, Coco, Masina; Bellanova, Ricci, Linetty, Ilic, Lazaro; Sanabria, Zapata