AC Milan coach, Paulo Fonseca says the introduction of Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze changed the game in his team's 3-1 winner over Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.
Fresh from his man-of-the-match performance against Udinese where he scored the winner, Chukwueze was surprisingly dropped to the bench with the Portuguese winger Rafael Leao returning to the team following a time away on the sidelines.
With Milan tied 1-1 in the 60th minute against Brugge, after being reduced to ten men in the 40th minute following the sending off of Chukwueze’s international teammate, Raph Onyedika, Fonseca introduced the Nigerian and one minute later his team took the lead for the first time in the game.
Chukwueze ensured the game was put to bed with an assist for Reijnders to help the midfielder grab his second goal in the game and in the process seal his club’s first win in the competition this season.
Fonseca speaking after the game, praised the introduction of the winger and his countryman, Noah Okafor for their huge impact as the turning point in the game.
“I think we improved with the entry of Okafor and Chukwueze. When Okafor and Chukwueze came on, the game changed; they brought energy and the team gained intensity. After the second goal, we did some very good things, but before that, we played without intensity”, he said to SkySports.
“There’s no specific problem with him (Leão). The substitution wasn’t a punishment; we needed Okafor and Chukwueze. It should be seen as normal; Rafa needs to see it as normal and work to help the team like all other players.”
“He rounded up saying the Nigerian could regain his starting spot when they take on Bologna in the Italian Serie A on Saturday with the duo of Christian Pulisic and Okafor.”
Chukwueze, Pulisic and Okafor from the start? “Maybe. I’m thinking about that now.”
