FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Fiorentina v AC Milan - Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy - October 6, 2024 AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca reacts REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File Photo
(Reuters) - AC Milan's latest defeat left their manager extremely angry, and he does not care about a player's name or status when he needs to criticise them, Paulo Fonseca said on Friday.
The 2-1 loss to Fiorentina came on the back of losing 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, but it was the manner of their defeat in Florence which left Fonseca furious.
Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham both had penalties saved in the game, and afterwards Fonseca complained that Christian Pulisic is the designated penalty taker and he couldn't understand why that changed.
Hernandez was sent off at the end for complaining to the referee, and the manager was glad to have the international break before meeting many of his players again.
"I was so angry after Florence that it was good not to have seen anyone," Fonseca told a press conference ahead of Saturday's home game with Udinese.
"We had few players in those training sessions, then all the internationals arrived yesterday. We talked about the match against Fiorentina and today we spoke about Udinese.
"I know that there has been a lot of talk about Florence, for me it was very important to talk about it."
Fonseca is already under pressure, with his side sixth in the standings, five points off leaders Napoli, and Milan have also lost both their Champions League games, and the manager intends to tackle any issues head on.
"I don't close my eyes to problems. We have them, let's face them," Fonseca said.
"If we have any problems, I don't give a damn about the player's name. I talk to him. Frontally, directly, with the team or with the players.
"For me, no player is more important than the team. And those who make mistakes must take responsibility. If someone doesn't follow this team spirit, it's difficult for me."
Fonseca was asked about the criticism levelled at him about not having control of the dressing room.
"I don't have to demonstrate anything, I'm not an actor," he said.
"In football today there is a great need to be seen, I'm not like that, since day one. Ask the players, if I have been this way from the start or not."
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
