Fans had expected a different Milan after the weak start to the league last week, but Paulo Fonseca’s team disappointed again in Parma, losing a game that not only provided important and additional food for thought, but also set off an alarm bell that should not be underestimated by the people at Casa Milan. Fabio Capello spoke to The Sports Newspaper: “Milan’s problems go far beyond defeat and can be summed up in one word: balance. Fonseca’s team lacks this; they are scattered all over the field, three here and four there, as the Portuguese coach himself said after the game. They will not achieve anything like that.”

Is this more about tactics than about the players?

“I would say yes. Fonseca talked about pressing high to win the ball back, but to do that you have to move as a team, with synchronization, organization and rhythm, which yesterday’s Milan doesn’t have by far. To be clear, it felt like watching last year’s team with its weaknesses, 6-7 players in front of the ball, but then if you lose it? Then you’re in trouble… In fact, right now, if I were an opponent, I would like to face Milan.”

Did the substitution of Emerson Royal and Fofana make a difference? Capello replied:

“Well, that was the most negative surprise for me. Milan didn’t change despite the substitutions and continued to struggle with counterattacks on large areas. To be honest, Parma was even more dangerous on the wing occupied by Emerson Royal. This confirms that this is not a problem of individual players, but of the whole team.”