AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca openly acknowledged that his team was convincingly defeated by Liverpool in their Champions League clash on Tuesday night. The match saw Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Dominik Szoboszlai all finding the back of the net under the tactical guidance of Arne Slot, leaving Milan struggling to cope with their intensity.
Speaking to Sky Italia after the game, Fonseca was candid about the superiority of their opponents. “We were up against Liverpool, who are undeniably a fantastic team,” he said. “We started the match on the front foot, creating some early pressure. But everything changed when they caught us on the counter-attack. They capitalized on two set-piece opportunities, and those goals altered the entire dynamic of the game, both in terms of the scoreline and our mental stability.” Fonseca’s remarks reflect the pivotal moments that shifted momentum in Liverpool’s favor, allowing them to take command of the contest.
At one point, it seemed AC Milan might be on track for a famous result, especially after Christian Pulisic, the USMNT star, fired the Italian giants into an early lead. However, Liverpool quickly turned the tide, regaining control with two powerful headers before the first half ended. Once in front, the Reds never appeared vulnerable, calmly managing the game and keeping Milan at bay. Fonseca admitted that once Liverpool took the lead, it was always going to be an uphill battle. “In these types of high-stakes games, it’s the small details that really define the outcome. You simply can’t afford to make mistakes, and unfortunately, we did,” he explained.
Fonseca further elaborated on the gap between the two teams, stating that Liverpool demonstrated a level of cohesion that Milan has yet to reach. “I think Liverpool are more of a team than we are at the moment, and they certainly showed that today,” he confessed. “We need to work on building more consistency, especially after we conceded the second goal. After that, our performance completely collapsed. It’s hard to compete when the team loses its composure and stops playing cohesively.”
Another critical point Fonseca raised was his team’s defensive frailties, particularly when it came to handling Liverpool’s star players. “We are still making far too many mistakes,” he admitted. “In one-on-one situations, in the individual duels, and in key phases of the game, we were really struggling. Trying to contain Mohamed Salah was especially difficult. He, along with the other top players in their squad, are extremely hard to stop.”
The AC Milan coach also highlighted how Salah’s movements off the ball caused numerous problems for his side’s defense. “Salah’s ability to create space and exploit gaps in our defense was a major issue for us. We tried to limit his movements, but he’s such an intelligent and dangerous player,” Fonseca added. The manager’s comments reflect Milan’s ongoing struggle to match Liverpool’s level, particularly when it comes to dealing with elite talents like Salah.
In the end, Fonseca was left with a sense of disappointment but also a clear understanding of what his team needs to improve. “We know where our weaknesses lie, and we have to focus on correcting them if we want to compete at this level,” he concluded. While Milan’s journey in the Champions League continues, this defeat serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done for them to challenge Europe’s elite teams.