Milan's head coach, Paulo Fonseca, emphasised the importance of honouring the club's legacy as they prepare to face Genoa in Serie A. This match coincides with Milan's 125th anniversary. Fonseca expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's recent performance against Red Star Belgrade, where a late goal from Tammy Abraham secured their win. He urged his players to embody the club's storied history in their upcoming game.
Following their victory over Red Star Belgrade, Milan moved up to 12th place in the 36-team standings. They are now just one point away from reaching the top eight, which would ensure automatic qualification for the knockout stages. However, Fonseca is focused on domestic matters this week as they host Genoa at San Siro. He hopes to celebrate Milan's milestone anniversary with a victory.

Fonseca did not shy away from publicly criticising his team after their midweek performance. "First, because I always tell the truth," he explained when asked about his comments. "It's difficult for me to hide what I feel after the game." He stressed that these messages were crucial for conveying his expectations and that speaking out was necessary.
Milan captain Davide Calabria was among those criticised by Fonseca. The Italy international responded to comments about his performance on social media. Despite this, Fonseca remains optimistic about addressing Milan's issues. "I have already seen the Milan I wanted," he stated, acknowledging that while he's not a magician, consistency in attitude is crucial for improvement.
As Milan prepares for their clash with Genoa, they find themselves seventh in Serie A, trailing leaders Atalanta by 13 points but with a game in hand. Fonseca tempered expectations of competing for a 20th Scudetto due to this significant gap. "As always, I want to be honest," he said. "I think it is more difficult now, but inside I still believe."
Despite recent struggles, Fonseca believes solutions are within reach. He highlighted the need for a consistent team attitude above technical or tactical errors. "It's difficult for me to understand this mental inconsistency of the team," he admitted but remained confident it could be resolved.
Milan's upcoming match against Genoa presents an opportunity to demonstrate resilience and determination as they aim to honour their rich history on this special occasion.