MILAN: AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca was delighted to see his side conjure a late winner through striker Tammy Abraham as they beat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, but he had some harsh words about his players' effort.
Milan, who are 12th in the standings on 12 points, were out of sorts in the second half and could well have conceded a second goal before Abraham struck in the 87th minute to seal the win at the San Siro.
"I have to talk to the team. I don't want to talk too much, I want to analyse (the game), but there are things that are clear to me. It's not a tactical or technical issue - we arrive here to a decisive match for us, and having this feeling of not doing everything to win the match is the worst feeling we could have," he told broadcaster Sky Sport.
Sitting in 31st place in the standings, Red Star pressed hard for a winner in the second half, leading Fonseca to question his side's commitment.
"I know that I work every day to do well, I don't know if everyone in our team can say that. We have the obligation to give and do everything to win, and we didn't do it," he said.
"I have to talk to the team about what happened on the pitch. They have to understand that this cannot happen."
Milan winger Rafael Leao, who opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, admitted that his side had not reached the standards they set for themselves, but said that he was pleased to get the victory.
"In the second half we were not mentally focused, we were not in the game, but I also have to compliment ourselves, because we did not stop, we continued to fight, to look for the goal, and in the end it came."
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor Editing by Toby Davis)