FONSECA: "ON THE PITCH WITHOUT PRESSURE AND WITH MOTIVATION"

A big match immediately after the break. Serie A returns for Matchday 13 and the calendar offers an interesting AC Milan v Juventus. On the day before the match at San Siro, in Milanello, Coach Fonseca discussed themes of the match in a press conference.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATCH
"It's an important match, not decisive, but it's no more important than the one against Empoli. We need to win a couple of games, that's essential, and I think we are capable of doing that. We are AC Milan, and we have a lot of respect for Juve, but we're not scared".

PREVIOUS MEETINGS UNDER PRESSURE
"I don't feel as if there is more pressure when there are these types of games. I think it's more fair to talk about motivation rather than pressure, and this is what we are trying to work on: there will always be pressure there because we are AC Milan, but the motivation must also be high, no matter the game. For this, after Madrid and before Cagliari, I wanted to send a message, because I know the danger of certain matches".

THE TYPE OF JUVENTUS EXPECTED
"Juventus are a team that can adapt a lot, I like them a lot, and they've changed greatly compared to last year. I don't know if Weah will play in place of Vlahović. I know Weah way because I have managed him. They are different players, Timothy is very quickly, in behind, we will have to pay attention to his movement. The intentions of the team will change a bit. We concentrate a lot on Vlahović, but I think the main dangers from Juventus come from the wide positions". 

LEÃO, MORATA AND THEO
"They're doing well, they are players that are able to make a difference. We need the best version of Rafa and Álvaro for this match, I've seen this in training, and they're doing well like the others, they are motivated, and I expect them to show this in the match. Theo is the best left-back in the world, I have no doubt about that, he's needed a bit of time to adapt. We spoke recently, and he's learning important things, I've seen him be more motivated and concentrated than ever".

OFFENSIVE ATTITUDE
"We are doing well going forward, 3 goals against Madrid and Cagliari in both games are good signs. We can't just depend on one player, the team makes the difference and if the team is playing well, the players will too as a consequence. We want to be attacking, but we know that Juve has the best defence, it will be a difficult match in attack, we are ready. With respect to Madrid, it will be a different game, at the moment Juve are better defensively". 

GOALS CONCEDED
"Our defensive problem remains, luckily Pavlović and Theo are the only defenders to have been on international duty. We have almost exclusively worked on the line and things that we have to improve on".

MEETING SINNER IN TURIN
"It was a pleasure meeting a Milanista such as him, he has so many good aspects that I'd like to see in my team, the concentration capacity for example. In this, he is the number one. But, we're talking about an individual sport, it's very different".

INJURY UPDATE
"Jović is not well, he's not ready to play; Camarda has worked with us and will be included. Gabbia is doing well, he trained recently and is ready to play". 

LOFTUS-CHEEK'S MOMENT
"All the players have different chances to play, I'm happy with Loftus, he had some difficulties at the start because he is a quick player who plays to feet rather than into space. Against Napoli he was brilliant, he is growing. I also have Pulisic, Fofana and Reijnders in good form, and it's difficult for Ruben because he needs to have patience and the moment. I am sure, however, that he will play a lot this year because he's always working well and is ready to play". 

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