Under-fire Milan boss Fonseca understands fans´ frustrations

AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca understands the frustrations of fans who booed the team recently, with the Rossoneri keen to make amends when they visit Hellas Verona.

Milan’s 125th anniversary celebrations were soured last weekend, as they were booed off at San Siro having drawn 0-0 with Genoa.

In their first campaign under Fonseca, the Rossoneri are already 14 points adrift of Serie A leaders Atalanta – and eight behind Fiorentina in fourth – after 15 games.

Their six victories at this stage of the season are their fewest since 2019-20, when they also went on to draw their 16th match of the campaign.

However, Fonseca is keen to ensure they enter the Christmas break with an important three points under their belts, ahead of visiting 17th-placed Verona on Friday.

“We all understand the frustration of the fans but there’s no one more than us who wants to win. We can work honestly to change the situation, we respect their protest,” Fonseca said.

“If we look only at the results, it’s true that there is disappointment but I can’t speak only about those, I see progress in the team from game to game.”

“When we have not won, almost always the problem has not been technical or tactical but of the head. I don’t remember matches in which we were dominated, only Liverpool,” he added of the 3-1 home Champions League loss they suffered against the Reds in September.

The Portuguese, who replaced Stefano Pioli at Milan in June, also backed left back Theo Hernandez to return to his best after leaving him on the bench against Genoa.

“I had spoken to Theo before the match, his situation is easy for me to explain. He has played a lot, he was in the national team, he is not in the best physical condition, he needs to find it again,” Fonseca said.

“He is very important for us, it can never be a punishment for him. It’s just to get him back to his best, to get him back to the best full-back in the world, because that’s what he is for us.”