Lucas Vazquez: The announcement from the AC Milan coach that shakes Madrid

A few hours before the fourth matchday of the Champions League against Real Madrid, Paulo Fonseca, coach of AC Milan, has made an announcement that does not reassure the Madrid fans regarding Lucas Vazquez.

It will be a great match this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Just days after their exceptional victory against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Real Madrid will attempt to assert themselves against AC Milan. For this important match, which would allow Carlo Ancelotti’s team to place themselves in the Top 8—directly qualifying for the knockout stage in case of victory—Paulo Fonseca is not planning to hold back. Determined to create an upset on the Merengues’ turf, the Milanese coach is setting aside the whispers and making a bold announcement.

Rafael Leao returns to his right side

In conflict with the dynamic Portuguese winger, who has not started the last three matches for AC Milan as a titular player, Paulo Fonseca is announcing changes. “I always convey to my team the desire to win, and tomorrow will be no different. Real is a great team, but I’m focused on victory. After that, anything can happen, but that’s our mentality,” the Milanese coach first shared before confirming the news: “Rafa (Leao) will be a starter, yes. I expect from him what we usually expect from him—to be decisive.”

In any case, this will be a significant test for Lucas Vazquez at this end of the first half of the season. Brought in to be a starter for the rest of the season following Dani Carvajal’s injury, the 33-year-old Spanish full-back has yet to confirm that he can adequately hold down the right side of the defense. In the last two matches for Real Madrid, Vazquez has shown enormous defensive difficulties.

And when we consider all the trouble Leao causes on his right side, one wonders in what system Carlo Ancelotti plans to stop the dangerous Portuguese player. Should there be another catastrophic performance this Tuesday, Lucas Vazquez would certainly give the club’s management every reason to urgently recruit during the winter transfer window.