Fonseca, the AC Milan maestro, has thrown a curveball at everyone with his starting lineup for the crucial clash against Napoli. The Portuguese tactician has left stars like Rafael Leao and Fikayo Tomori on the bench, despite the absence of other key players.
«Regarding Leao on the bench, it was my decision. I thought it would be better to start with Okafor,» Fonseca explained in his pre-match press conference.
Fonseca emphasizes the importance of the match without underestimating its impact on the title race: «Our ambition is clear, we want to fight for the Scudetto. Today is an important match but not a decisive one, because we’ve just started, but we want to put in a good performance against a great team.»
Fonseca also explained the absence of Christian Pulisic from the starting lineup: «We don’t have Pulisic today, who has gastroenteritis and isn’t in the best condition to start. Loftus-Cheek will play, who has very interesting characteristics.»
Analyzing Loftus-Cheek’s role, Fonseca added: «He’s a player who has difficulty carrying the ball in tight spaces. I don’t know if Napoli will give us space, I’ve seen that they defend deep and compact. So this is an opportunity to see Loftus-Cheek’s growth, as he has good offensive characteristics.»
On Pulisic’s potential late appearance, Fonseca said: «We’ll see if Pulisic can come on. He’s feeling better than before, but didn’t feel ready to start. We’ll see if we need him and how he reacts.»
Fonseca’s decisions have sparked a wave of intrigue. The inclusion of Okafor and Loftus-Cheek in the starting lineup raises questions about Fonseca’s strategy against Napoli. Leao and Tomori’s absence, alongside the possibility of Pulisic entering the game, adds a layer of uncertainty to this crucial encounter.
Fonseca seeks a victory in this game, but his decisions point towards a more strategic approach, seeking to leverage Okafor and Loftus-Cheek’s skills, while Pulisic’s potential late appearance provides an extra tactical layer.
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