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Fonseca explains Milan’s tactical role in the Champions League
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Fonseca explains Milan’s tactical role in the Champions League

Fonseca explains Milan's tactical role in the Champions League

Fonseca explains Milan’s tactical role in the Champions League

Paulo Fonseca explains exactly how Milan will start tonight in the must-win Champions League match against Club Brugge. ‘Ruben Loftus-Cheek is behind the striker.’

It starts at 5.45pm UK time (16.45 GMT) in San Siro.

You can follow all the build-up and action of this match, Juventus-VfB Stuttgart and Aston Villa-Bologna on the Live Blog.

This is definitely a must-win game for the Rossoneri, who started their European season with defeats to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen that left them on zero points after two rounds.

“These are special matches, the Champions League is always special, especially at home. It is important that we play well and win so that we can continue to play more of these games throughout the season. We want to continue in the Champions League, but for that we have to win today,” Fonseca told Sky Sport Italia.

Theo Hernandez returns to the team after his red card against Fiorentina and missed penalty, but surprisingly still gets the captain’s armband.

Fonseca explains the Milanese form

AC Milan's Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca (C) gestures with Milan's players at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images)AC Milan's Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca (C) gestures with Milan's players at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images)

AC Milan’s Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca (C) gestures with Milan’s players at the end of the Italian Serie A football match between AC Milan and Torino at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP) (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP via Getty Images)

“First and foremost, I expect the team to work together, defend and attack together and make optimal use of individual skills. We must be focused and rigorous at every level.”

There is some confusion over whether Tijjani Reijnders or Loftus-Cheek plays as trequartista behind Alvaro Morata, so Fonseca was asked to explain the team’s structure.

“The system is the same: today we have Pulisic wider on the right and Loftus-Cheek on the inside, while Reijnders will initially be closer to Fofana and then push to get closer to Loftus and Morata.”

Teen sensation Francesco Camarda will be on the bench tonight as Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham are both injured. If he gets through, he will become the youngest Milan player ever to play in the Champions League.

‘We’ll see. Camarda is a young player that we really believe in, but we have to realize that he is really very young,” concludes Fonseca.

“We will see if we can get him some time today because it is important for him and for everyone who believes in the Milan youth academy.”