Paulo Fonseca hailed AC Milan’s dominant performance and improved mentality after their 6-1 demolition of Sassuolo in the Coppa Italia at San Siro. The Rossoneri stormed into the quarter-finals with an emphatic display, sealing the game by the 23rd minute through early strikes from Samuel Chukwueze, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rafael Leao.
Second-half goals from Davide Calabria and Tammy Abraham further cemented Milan’s superiority. Despite the commanding win, teenage goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani missed out on a clean sheet after Samuele Mulattieri’s effort slipped past him for Sassuolo’s lone goal.
A ‘Magnificent’ First Half
Speaking to Sport Mediaset, Fonseca expressed his satisfaction with the team’s attitude, saying:
“It was a very good performance, the first half was magnificent and also helped me to rest some players. I am very satisfied with the attitude of the players.”
The manager emphasized that squad rotation played a role in the victory, with key players like Rafael Leao, Tijjani Reijnders, and Youssouf Fofana still featuring. Fonseca applauded the contributions of players who have had limited minutes this season, noting their readiness and high-level performances.
Mentality Shift Against Lesser Opponents
Milan’s struggles against lower-ranked opponents in Serie A have been a source of frustration, but Fonseca highlighted the team’s focus and progress in addressing these issues.
“I told the players that the most important thing in these fixtures is to avoid relaxation. It was crucial we start strong with intensity, recover the ball quickly, press high, and they did all of that,” Fonseca stated.
He acknowledged past challenges with the team’s attitude against smaller sides, taking full responsibility for those lapses. However, he stressed that the team’s display against Serie B leaders Sassuolo demonstrated significant growth.
“Today we showed real progress on that score. I can only be satisfied,” Fonseca added.
Milan will face either Roma or Sampdoria in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia, set for 2025. When asked about the possibility of playing his former club Roma, Fonseca remained focused on the immediate challenges.
“I haven’t thought about that. Now I will go home and start thinking about the match against Atalanta,” he said.
The upcoming Serie A clash against Atalanta, who currently sit second in the league table, promises to be a pivotal encounter. Scheduled for Friday evening, it will test Milan’s resolve as they continue their push for domestic success.