Fonseca: ‘You cannot imagine the pressure of coaching Milan’ after 9-month ban

Paulo Fonseca feels that the tension caused by his sacking at Milan was behind his lengthy Ligue 1 ban at Olympique Lyonnais. ‘You cannot imagine the pressure of coaching Milan.’

The Portuguese tactician had started the season at San Siro, but was dismissed on December 30 to make way for Sergio Conceicao.

He did not spend long on the unemployment register, because on January 31 Fonseca was back in action at French club Lyon.

This experience was ill-fated, as he was sent off for screaming at a referee and going physically head-to-head with him on the touchline.

It was considered an act of aggression and earned him a nine-month ban from the touchline in Ligue 1.

Fonseca blames Milan pressure for Lyon outburst

“I never, not even in my personal life or my childhood, attacked anyone. I have always been a very calm person,” Fonseca told L’Equipe, via Tuttomercatoweb.

“So I don’t want to seek excuses or give the impression I am justifying myself. I made a mistake, I recognise that.”

He felt that perhaps the way his experience at Milan had ended just a month earlier left him in a difficult frame of mind.

“At that moment, I had just been shown the red card for protesting at a foul. I confess, I did not like the way the referee was officiating.

“I had not a single moment to rest between my jobs at Milan and Lyon. And you cannot imagine the pressure of coaching Milan. Perhaps I should’ve had a break first, but I don’t want to look for excuses.”

It didn’t seem to hurt Lyon too much, because their results have actually improved since Fonseca was forced to watch from the stands.

“My suspension really helped bring together the team and their fighting spirit, it united the players. Even the people behind the scenes at the club feel more united. It isn’t just because of this suspension, which I feel is unfair, but also the situation at the club. We feel the need to be more united than ever to win.”