Paulo Fonseca’s AC Milan have found the affirmation they were searching for. They were comprehensive winners against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, beating the defending champions 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to revive their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
But the win was significant within the broader context of their season, too, because Fonseca — who left French side Lille to become head coach in the summer — has so far suffered a fraught return to Italian football.
His Milan have had their moments. The brightest being a dramatic derby victory over Inter back in September. But they have rarely been convincing. Most recently, they emerged from a tight game with lowly Monza at the weekend with a 1-0 win, but having conceded enough good chances to have lost. It was typical, because Milan’s points have not come easily and they lie seventh for good reason. Fonseca has been under significant pressure already and is yet to win over supporters who, when Stefano Pioli left at the end of last season, were yearning for a grander replacement.
This result should help, because it showed Fonseca’s football at its best. Milan were precise and optimistic, but smart in how they attacked, too, and thoroughly deserving winners.
Their plan for Real was clear almost from kick-off. Set-out in a 4-3-3, Fonseca equipped his side to cope with the beguiling threat of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Yunus Musah was picked on the right side midfield, helping to ensure that right back Emerson Royal was always supported and rarely left one-on-one. Christian Pulisic mucked in with those duties, too, dropping deep to add further protection. Rarely did either Madrid forward touch the ball without being quickly imprisoned.
Milan’s balance was near perfect. Royal tripped Vinicius in the first half to concede a penalty — from which the Brazilian scored his side’s only goal — but, that aside, there were few moments of panic. Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori were disciplined at the heart of the visiting defence, resisting the urge to be drawn forward by Real’s fluid, floating attacking line. In goal, Mike Maignan’s most dramatic save was not made until second half stoppage-time.
But Milan came to play in the Bernabeu and were absolutely Real’s equal in possession. Fonseca’s style demands that his defensive players be brave with the ball, and that they work their way out of their own zone with purpose. It can be intricate at times and full of risk, but the reward is attractive and effective short-range passing that draws an opponent in to the middle of the pitch, creating space for attacking players nearer the touchline.
It worked perfectly, providing the basis for the win and creating the great irony of the night. Since arriving in Milan, Fonseca has had a testing relationship with Rafael Leao, the ludicrously gifted, mercurial winger, with stories of discontent punctuating the season. But Leao was magnificent in the Bernabeu. He created the second goal by forcing a save from Andriy Lunin, allowing Alvaro Morata to lash in the rebound, and then manufactured the third, gashing the defence down the left before squaring for Tijjani Reijnders to score.
Individually, Leao was terrific — much too skilful and quick for Lucas Vasquez — but his effect was also an extension of what was happening further back. With Musah supporting Royal and dropping into what often became a five-man defensive line, Leao was liberated. Time-after-time, when Milan regained possession, he would be free on the far touchline and in position to drive forward.
Real were never able to subdue that threat. Really, they should have seen it coming, given that Fonseca outlined what his approach would be in his Monday press conference.
“I think Rafa and Theo (Hernandez) can make the difference,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “If we defend (with five), we can also give Rafa more freedom to attack. It is a difficult match, but also a good one for us to play well and to try to control the ball.”
Hernandez had a terrific game. He was resilient without the ball and adventurous with it. Leao was an outright menace, though — the perfect instrument with which to execute the gameplan.
But describing the win as simply tactical sleight of hand would be reductive; there were many outstanding individual performances. His goal aside, Reijnders played with measured class. Morata, who has become strangely talismanic late in his career, was warrior-like in his pressing work. Further back, Youssouf Fofana was stout at the base of midfield, making the interception that led to Morata’s goal. And, as valuable as Musah was in buttressing the defence, he was an asset with the ball, too, playing with technique and subtlety.
Christian Pulisic was also a danger. His quick, dynamic burst forward was at the heart of that move. It was also his corner that Real failed to defend for the first goal. Pulisic looks extremely comfortable playing for Fonseca, and is profiting from the opportunities it gives him to drive in-field from the touchline and towards the penalty box. And, while this was not his most prominent performance of the season, it was a reminder that he can be a difference-maker at the highest level.
More broadly, for Milan, this was a night they needed.
Part of their success was a complacent Real Madrid, who were naïve and careless. But Fonseca’s team took advantage with a ruthlessness they were not thought to possess, and in a manner which might, after this awkward start, settle them into their union.
(Top photo: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
