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Fonseca: Milan have ‘respect’ but ‘are not afraid’ of Juventus

Paulo Fonseca said Milan have a lot of “respect” for Juventus but his side are “not afraid” of their rivals ahead of their Serie A match on Saturday.

After a slow start to the season, Milan are six points behind Juventus in the table, but only one place behind them as they look to make up for the top six.

The Rossoneri have played one game less than Thiago Motta's side and could catapult themselves back into the Scudetto list with a win this weekend.

Milan return to the San Siro for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Napoli at the end of October and could record two consecutive home defeats in Serie A for the first time since October and November 2023.

“It's not decisive, but it's important, like all of them,” Fonseca told reporters ahead of Saturday's match.

“I can't say the game against Juve is more important than the next one against Empoli because we need back-to-back wins.

“It's a different game, but I always think positively about it. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for the 'Bianconeri', but we are not afraid. We are here ready to win.”

Step by step towards the big clash #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/uMMLf45A3Y

— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 20, 2024

A boost for Milan is that Juventus will have to do without top scorer Dusan Vlahovic on Saturday, after he returned from international duty with a muscle problem.

Despite the Serb's absence, Fonseca was aware of the danger his likely replacement, Timothy Weah, would pose after managing him during his time at Lille.

“Juve knows how to adapt very well. I don't know if Weah will play,” said Fonseca.

“Weah is very fast and attacks deep, not like Vlahovic. Of course it won't be the same.

“We will have to pay attention to movements in depth and less to supporting work, because he is a player who does this work less.”

While Fonseca has endured a difficult start to his tenure at San Siro, Milan have shown they are capable of matching the very best.

They defeated rivals Inter in October before defeating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their final Champions League match, keeping their play-off hopes alive.

“I believe it is a matter of motivation and not pressure,” Fonseca said.

“Against Inter, Juve and Real it is easy to be motivated, it is more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation.

“Pressure is always with us, every day. If we don't want pressure, we shouldn't be here.”

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