AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca praised his players' determination after their impressive 3-1 victory over reigning champions Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. The win at the Santiago Bernabeu was Milan's first over Real in 15 years and handed the defending champions their first consecutive defeats since October 2021.
 
"We won because the players had the courage to come here and play fearlessly," Fonseca said in a press conference. "We prepared to control the game, and in the first half, we accomplished important things. In the second half, we suffered more, but the win was well-deserved."
 
Fonseca described the victory as a significant statement, attributing their success to an aggressive game plan that he says is difficult to execute in Serie A, where teams often play a more defensive style.
 
"Today, we showed that an Italian team could come to the Bernabeu to play, not just defend. This type of game is entirely different from Serie A. We’re aiming to bring some of that aggression back home, but it’s not easy against teams like Monza or Cagliari, who often press tightly."
 
The victory places Milan in 17th on the Champions League table with six points, just behind Real Madrid on goal difference after four matches, keeping their hopes alive in the competition.