AC Milan secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Hellas Verona, thanks to Tijjani Reijnders’ decisive goal. The win was crucial for the Rossoneri, who had been struggling with just one victory in their last five Serie A matches. This result brings them closer to the top of the table, although they remain nine points adrift of the leaders.
After the match, Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca expressed his satisfaction with the outcome but acknowledged areas for improvement. “In the first half, we played a bit slowly, even though we defended well and maintained possession,” he stated. “We make too many mistakes; we need to be more aggressive and do better.” Despite the challenges posed by injuries to key players, Fonseca felt the victory was well-deserved. “Given the absence of many players and our current form, I can say I’m satisfied with the victory, which is also very deserved. Defensively, we showed more solidity,” he added.
Fonseca praised his central defenders, Fofana and Terracciano, for their strong performances, noting their contribution to the team’s stability. He remarked, “The central defenders did a great job, providing significant stability. Game after game, we are improving.”
On the injury front, Fonseca provided an update on Rafael Leao’s condition following his exit from the match due to a suspected thigh issue. “I just spoke with Rafa, and it seems that it’s nothing serious. We will see tomorrow, but it looks like a more preventive stop,” he said. He also clarified that Theo Hernandez is not injured but mentioned that Christian Pulisic is sidelined due to an injury sustained while on international duty and that Alvaro Morata is dealing with tonsillitis.
The injury list for Milan continues to grow, now totaling eight players including Leao, Pulisic, Musah, Loftus-Cheek, Okafor, Bennacer, Jovic, and Florenzi. This situation has forced Fonseca to rely on younger players like Liberali, Jimenez, and Terracciano in crucial roles. “We are experiencing a total emergency in practically every department,” he acknowledged.
