AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca expressed satisfaction with his team’s focused performance in their dominant 6-1 victory over Sassuolo in the last-16 of the Coppa Italia at San Siro on Tuesday. Milan took control early, establishing a four-goal lead by halftime, effectively ending any hopes of an upset from the Serie B leaders. This allowed Fonseca to make four substitutions at the start of the second half.
“We played an excellent game, a fantastic first half, which also helped us manage our players,” Fonseca told Mediaset. “There’s nothing more to say; the team was very professional. The players’ attitude was spot on, and I’m very satisfied.”
Fonseca made eight changes to the lineup that defeated Empoli 3-0 over the weekend, and he was pleased with how the substitutes performed. “I’ve always trusted all the players, which is why they all get a chance to play,” he said. “I’m especially happy with how the players who’ve had less playing time responded. They’ve shown they’re ready whenever needed, and that’s exactly what I want to hear.”
Fonseca also praised his team’s mentality in a game they were expected to win, noting a shift in their approach compared to previous seasons. “In the past, we sometimes struggled with our attitude against smaller teams. But today, we showed the right attitude, and that’s what we needed.”
Looking ahead, Fonseca could face his former club AS Roma in the quarter-finals if they get past Sampdoria, but his immediate focus is on Milan’s upcoming league match against Atalanta on Friday. “I haven’t thought about that yet,” he said. “I’m heading home and thinking only about the game against Atalanta.”
