Seedorf: AC Milan Should Give Fonseca Time to Implement His Ideas

AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf has called for the club to be patient with new head coach Paulo Fonseca, stating that the Portuguese manager “has good ideas” that simply need time to be fully understood and implemented by the squad.

“I watched the interviews, and while the coach was very emotional, he still managed to stay within reasonable bounds,” Seedorf told DAZN. “He made it clear that the team needs to perform consistently, and sometimes that message needs to be sent forcefully when you represent a club like Milan.”

Seedorf acknowledged that Milan has been inconsistent this season, but attributed some of that to the major changes at the club following the departures of former coach Stefano Pioli and director Paolo Maldini.

“Many things have changed and it takes time to adjust. The club must have patience and support the choice they made in Fonseca,” the Dutchman explained. “The team has shown in some matches that they can play well – now they just need to find more consistency.”

When asked about potential leaders in the current Milan squad, Seedorf was hesitant to make comparisons to his era. “This is a very different generation of players and coaches. I don’t know them well enough to say who can be a leader,” he said. “I can say that in terms of quality, some players need to maintain a high level, but we all know that isn’t enough. Attitude is crucial too.”

Seedorf expressed confidence in Fonseca’s abilities, stating: “If I was coaching this team, some things would be completely different. A coach will always bring his own ideas. This squad was accustomed to Pioli’s methods, so it will take time for them to fully grasp and execute Fonseca’s tactics. And I do believe he has very good ideas that can benefit the team.”

The former midfielder’s comments come as Milan prepares to face Genoa, with Fonseca under scrutiny after publicly criticizing some players for lack of effort following their midweek Champions League victory.