AC Milan coach Paolo Fonseca understands the frustration of fans who booed the team recently, keen to rectify them when the Rossoneri visit Hellas Verona.
Milan’s 125th anniversary celebrations were bittersweet last weekend, as they drew 0-0 with Genoa at the San Siro.
In their first campaign under Fonseca, the Rossoneri are already 14 points behind Serie A leaders Atalanta – and eight behind fourth-placed Fiorentina after 15 games.
Their six wins at this stage of the season are their fewest since 2019-20, when they drew their 16th match of the campaign.
However, Fonseca will be keen to ensure they go into the Christmas break with a vital three points under their belt before they travel to 17th-placed Verona on Friday.
“We all understand the fans’ frustration but nobody wants to win but us. We can work honestly to change the situation, we respect their protest,” Fonseka said.
“If we only look at results, it’s true that there are disappointments but I can’t just talk about them, I can see the progress of the team from game to game.”
“When we didn’t win, almost always the problem was not technical or tactical but mental. I don’t remember a match we dominated, only Liverpool,” he added of the 3-1 home Champions League defeat against the Reds in September.
The Portuguese, who replaced Stefano Pioli at Milan in June, backed left-back Theo Hernandez to return to his best after leaving him on the bench against Genoa.
“I spoke to Theo before the match, his situation is easy for me to explain. He has played a lot, he was in the national team, he is not in good physical condition, he has to find himself again,” said Fonseka.
“He is very important to us, it can never be a punishment for him. It’s to get him back to his best, to get him back to the best full-back in the world, because that’s what he is for us.”
