AC Milan Again Fails To Win, Senior Player Rejects Paulo Fonseca's Instructions

AC Milan winger Rafael Leao while celebrating a goal with Tammy Abraham in the match against Lazio. (X/@acmilan)

JAKARTA - AC Milan again failed to win after a 2-2 draw against Lazio in the Italian Serie A match at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Sunday, September 1, 2024 in the morning WIB. In that match there was an incident when Milan's senior player ignored coach Paulo Fonseca's instructions. Resistance to the new coach?

Fonseca is no better than the previous coach, Stefano Pioli. Even Pioli has advantages in motivating players. This is what makes Pioli still get respect from the players. Including veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who was under Pioli's handling in the last years before hanging up his boots.

On the other hand, Fonseca was ignored by senior players. An interesting incident in Milan's match against Lazio during the cooling break in the second half. Winger Rafael Leao and defender Theo Hernandez refused to join other players to receive instructions from the coach. The senior players only stood in opposite positions waiting for others.

Does this show a resistance attitude towards Fonseca? Or Leao and Hernandez disagree with the tactics of the former AS Roma coach who backed them up. Apart from the two, Fonseca did gambling by not fielding captain Davide Calabria.

Leao and Hernandez were only added in the 70th minute. Only two minutes later, Leao scored a goal that equalized the score to 2-2 while saving Milan from defeat.

Responding to the attitude of two senior players, Fonseca, quoting Italian Football, admitted that there was no problem. He also considered it unnecessary to exaggerate.

"There is no problem for me. Even Theo, in my opinion, has conveyed this to the media. We will not question it and it does not need to be exaggerated," said Fonseca.

"Previously I had explained to the players about my decision. They accepted because it was all for the team. I didn't even realize that the two were across from there. I instead focused on other things," he said.

"Besides, they just put in two minutes early. So both don't need to cool break. For me there is no problem. They also showed a good reaction after being included," said Fonseca again.

In that match, Milan, who visited Lazio's headquarters, actually started very well. Milan took the lead through a quick goal by defender Strahinja Pavlovic. Starting from a corner by Christian Pulisic. The ball that led to the front of Lazio's goal was greeted by Pavlovic who jumped high and headed him. The ball slid hard into the net without being saved by goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.

Goals were created when the game had only been running for eight minutes. Milan also managed to maintain the 1-0 advantage until the first half ended.

Entering the second half, Lazio tried to get up and show a good reaction while trying to catch up. They put pressure on the Rossoneri defense. Even though they failed, their efforts finally paid off.

Even Lazio only needed four minutes to turn ahead. Striker Valentin Castellanos managed to break the deadlock in the 60th minute. The goal started from a slick collaboration between Boulaye Dia and Nuno Tavares. Furthermore, Tavares fired a pass which was greeted with a slick volley from Cabellanos to equalize the score to 1-1.

Not long after or to be precise in the 64th minute, it was He's turn to turn things around. Tavares returned to play a role in the goal process by providing an assist that was completed by him.

In a position behind 2-1, Fonseca made a substitution. He immediately fielded Leao, Hernandez and Yunus Musah. Furthermore, striker Tammy Abraham, who was borrowed from Roma, made his debut by replacing Noah Okafor.

The change was not in vain. Milan's appearance became more lively and two minutes later Leao successfully beat Provedel. The score changed 2-2 and lasted until the game was over.

"We actually played well in the first half because we were able to master the game. But the team's performance was very different in the second half. We let Lazio develop. On the other hand, we stopped playing. When the team no longer put pressure on and had no courage to play openly, we wouldn't create much space," Fonseca said in response to the result of the match.

These results made Milan unable to win during the first three matches in domestic competitions. Milan, who have only collected two points, is stuck in 14th place. Meanwhile, Lazio, who has four points, is ranked eighth.