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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

Fonseca explains Milan's tactical role in the Champions League

Paulo Fonseca explains exactly how Milan are lined up in a must-win Champions League game against Club Brugge tonight. “Ruben Loftus-Cheek is behind the striker.”

It starts at 5.45pm UK time (4.45pm GMT) in San Siro.

You can follow all the build-up and action of this game, Juventus-VfB Stuttgart and Aston Villa-Bologna, in the live blog.

This is a must-win game for the Rossoneri, who began their European campaign with defeats to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, leaving them with zero points after two rounds.

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

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

Fonseca explains Milan's form

AC Milan's Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca (C) gestures with AC Milan players at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino at 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 AC Milan players at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino at 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 AC Milan players at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Torino at 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, making the most of their individual abilities. We need to be focused and rigorous at all levels.”

There is 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 up to get closer to Loftus and Morata.”

Teenage sensation Francesco Camarda is on the bench tonight with Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham both out injured. If he comes on, he would be the youngest Milan player ever in the Champions League.

“We'll see. Camarda is a young player that we really believe in, but we have to recognize that he is really very young,” concluded Fonseca.

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

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