Geoffrey Moncada has given an in depth interview to Milannews.it, discussing many alternative issues.

Moncada has been at Milan since 2019 and his energy in each season has solely risen, as he’s now a part of the trio that leads off the pitch, together with Giorgio Furlani and Zlatan Ibrahimović, all reporting to proprietor Gerry Cardinale.

Moncada, who began out as a scout, doesn’t typically give interviews, however yesterday he spoke at size to Milannews.it’s Pietro Mazzara and Antonio Vitiello:

What’s your day like right here at Milanello?
“I immediately have a gathering with my group, each on the plan of the day and of the week. We talk about issues with Zlatan [Ibrahimović], with [Jovan] Kirovski all of the issues we now have to do. Additionally with the Staff Supervisor. We discuss in regards to the video games we’ve seen and lots of different issues. We’ve a younger group that must be guided. You will need to discuss to them not solely about soccer but in addition in regards to the issues that occur to them or that they want off the pitch. To assist them. Milanello is the house of our sporting division, the place there’s additionally Milan Futuro.”

To get a way of the temper and construct private relationships, too…
“Sure, we do it. It’s a younger group that wants closeness, to speak. Additionally, about different issues, not simply soccer. We strive to do that with the coach and with Zlatan, additionally with all the administrators: we now have created a working group additionally for the households. It’s vital. We work collectively each day, we now have group, we’re younger, we’re hungry, we need to do extra and there are numerous issues nonetheless to do.”

Trying on the identification card, Milan have a really younger administration group: you might be 37-year-old, Zlatan is 43-year-old, Furlani 45-year-old. Do you’re feeling such as you a breath of recent air in a system the place many administrators are properly over 50-55 years of age?
“There’s a good combine. There are folks like me who come from the world of scouting and participant relations, there’s a finance man like Giorgio who’s an actual ‘crack’ in the case of the financial half after which there may be Zlatan who has the perspective of a former nice footballer. I believe that solely by working collectively can we do issues properly, a single individual, alone, can’t do it. All the highest golf equipment, in Europe, work like this.”

What’s your relationship with Ibrahimović?
“We discuss each day. We meet at Casa Milan, at Milanello, we exit to eat collectively. We’ve relationship, very direct. He desires to know issues with out losing time, I like that. We’re collectively each day.”

Do you additionally talk about which gamers to signal?
“Sure, he enjoys it too. I even set him up with a profile on an expert knowledge and video evaluation platform, so he can evaluation gamers himself.”

However to signal Morata, who has introduced some a lot by way of management, you didn’t want any algorithm…
“That’s the right instance of a ‘non-algorithm’ signing. We signed the captain of the Spanish nationwide group, somebody who has gained every little thing and already performed in Italy. I used to be fully satisfied about Álvaro – I knew he was the right participant for us. He has an vital mentality within the locker room, of a frontrunner.”

Did you make the primary name to the participant?
“No. First I spoke to the agent, there may be additionally this work to do [laughs]. Zlatan then spoke t o the participant as a result of he knew him, after which we spoke collectively. I like this instance as a result of it doesn’t come from knowledge. Final yr, Morata scored 22 targets for Atlético Madrid. He’s nonetheless a really fascinating participant for us. I’m comfortable he’s right here, and he feels very comfy right here.”

The place are the renewals of Theo Hernández and Maignan?
“We began discussions two months in the past. I can say we’re in place. I don’t know who will renew first, however the talks have begun positively. Everybody is absolutely comfortable right here—I haven’t seen anybody wanting to go away. You’ll be able to ask them; they’re all content material at Milan.”

As Reijnders confirmed in current days…
“I repeat: we’re and they’re comfortable at Milan. We’re working. We’ve to attempt to shut the issues which might be open.”

And the renewals are additionally a results of how a lot you make the participant really feel good…
“Precisely, it’s not simply the half on the pitch. We’ve to place them in the very best situations to have the ability to do properly, but in addition construct a direct relationship with us. They haven’t any issues with me and Zlatan. It’s true, we’re younger by way of age, however they’ll discuss to us straight and shortly. We are able to talk about and we’re right here to assist the group.”

Right now you’re a Technical Director, however you had been “born” a scout. How a lot of that position remains to be inside you and on this Milan?
“Once I was Chief Scout, I used to be away virtually each weekend touring to look at video games, both in Italy or overseas. Now I can’t be away on a regular basis as a result of I’ve different obligations. For instance, if we play on Saturday, I’ll journey on Sunday to see a recreation. I need to see gamers up shut, which is why I attempt to transfer discreetly—to keep away from creating strain on the participant I need to consider dwell. Watching them in individual helps me assess many elements.”

When Milan wants a participant, what are the steps?
“To start with, we begin by analyzing our group and the areas to develop and enhance. We don’t simply use the algorithm as has been mentioned for a very long time. That’s not true. We’ve a database that helps you see gamers from different nations. You will be the best scout on the earth, however you may’t see all of the leagues. The information helps you determine profiles and provide you with enter on sure gamers, younger or not, and might inform you that there are profiles that suit your search in different leagues too.”

Once we discuss in regards to the Milan mercato we discuss knowledge, we discuss algorithms, we discuss Moneyball. Do you relay totally on these instruments or is fieldwork equally vital?
“The information tells you if there may be an fascinating participant to look at. And we watch him first on video, with all of the scouts watching him, after which possibly we go and see him dwell. However earlier than we go and see him on the sector we now have to know the participant.”

How many individuals in your group work on this?
“I’ve ten scouts at my disposal, 5 who’re in Italy and 5 who’re overseas.”

Do they give you a completely ready report on a participant, are they specialised in flagging a profile that you’ll then go and see?
“It’s a mixture. We comply with a strategy: first, the scouts analyse gamers through video from their particular areas. Then, throughout the weekend, they go to look at the gamers dwell to verify or refute their preliminary impressions.”

From there, do you additionally go to see the participant dwell?
“Sure, I attempt to.”

Earlier than shopping for a participant it’s a must to see him dwell, proper?
“Sure, it’s unattainable to finalize a deal with out seeing the participant dwell. I’ve lots of belief in my scouts – we’d like that belief to work collectively. Generally I would like a participant, however 9 scouts might inform me no, that he’s not adequate. It’s vital to achieve a consensus. Watching them dwell is essential – you discover many issues. Movies reveal lots, however important elements like pace and bodily impression in duels can’t be judged on video alone.”

Do you additionally think about how they practice?
“Sure. For instance, years in the past I went to Strasbourg to see Youssouf Fofana dwell, as a result of the coaching was open. Right now, nevertheless, it is vitally tough to enter a sports activities heart. It’s good to look at the coaching, however it additionally is dependent upon what kind of coaching you go to see. If we go a day after a match [with the team only doing a recovery workout] then it doesn’t aid you.”

And what was it that you just seen about Fofana that struck you?
“I noticed a younger participant stuffed with confidence who labored onerous in coaching. His relationship with the followers was additionally fascinating – he was all the time smiling and approachable. I preferred that. It was his first yr at Strasbourg in Ligue 1; he turned a starter instantly with out first going via the youth academy. It was fascinating to see how he educated.”

So when did Fofana’s identify first seem in your databases?
“I joined Milan in January 2019, however I had already scouted Fofana once I was at Monaco. At the moment, he was taking part in for Strasbourg’s second group. I introduced my database to Milan, and we continued monitoring him. When he began taking part in repeatedly in Ligue 1, it turned difficult as a result of German and English golf equipment bought concerned. We adopted him till he joined Monaco.”

Your database should include lots. Is it untouchable? Are you protecting of it?
“[Laughs] No, I’m not. It contains experiences and knowledge collected over a few years. It helps observe a participant’s progress. We all the time want to remain humble when evaluating gamers – somebody we don’t like now may impress us in two or three years. I like altering my thoughts about gamers – it’s vital.”

Did Leão enter your database already from the time on the Sporting youth group?
“Sure, I bear in mind watching him play in opposition to Belenenses for Sporting. I believe he was 17 on the time. He performed as a quantity 10, virtually as a second striker, with lots of freedom. He was tall, lean, and technically excellent. He scored with unimaginable confidence. He was undoubtedly somebody to comply with. After all, many different scouts noticed him too – I wasn’t the primary. However if you attend an under-17 match in Portugal and see a participant like that, you begin monitoring him immediately.”

After which in 2019 he arrived at Milan? Did you report it? Are you able to clarify the way it occurred?
“We created a shortlist as a result of we wanted a brand new left winger. There have been some nice names [laughs]. Amongst them had been Leão, Malen, and Marcus Thuram, who on the time was at Guingamp. They had been that kind of profile: bodily. Right now Leão, Malen and Thuram are taking part in at a really excessive degree, however 4 or 5 years in the past, it wasn’t so apparent. Leão was taking part in for Lille and had solely been a starter for six months. We introduced him to Milan, however it wasn’t simple. On the whole individuals are typically very important of gamers, however for me, it’s essential to all the time give them the right time.”

The director of AZ Alkmaar mentioned that Reijnders is a powerful participant and everybody was sleeping apart from Milan. How did you get there?
“There are elements, typically, that instill doubt in you. Reijnders took a very long time to achieve excessive ranges. He didn’t play right away at AZ: he was within the second group and went on mortgage. And you then ask your self: Why at AZ, who usually put good gamers on the pitch right away, he didn’t play? This was our doubt. However he was clearly in our database: we created movies, we analyzed the info, there have been many experiences the place we all the time noticed him doing properly. He didn’t do badly and he didn’t do top-top issues. He all the time did properly. However the final season he performed at AZ he was taking part in within the Convention League: I noticed him in opposition to Lazio, I additionally went to see him in opposition to West Ham… And there I mentioned to myself that this participant can do every little thing, he runs lots, he’s technically good. He’s all the time optimistic, he all the time goes ahead. I preferred his profile, I believed we might convey him to Milan after which see how he would develop. In June we had a gathering with Stefano Pioli, at his dwelling in Parma. He instantly informed me that he wanted a top quality midfielder, a quantity 8 playmaker, a flexible profile. So I confirmed him Reijnders, Stefano instantly informed me that he preferred him. From there we moved ahead shortly within the negotiations.”

And this yr he’s additionally discovering the again of the web…
“I believe he can simply get to 10 targets. However he may also make assists, that are simply as vital. Everybody talks about targets, true, however discovering the ultimate cross can also be vital.”

And so we return to the info once more… How a lot do they aid you analyze the performances of people and the group?
“With the coach, we evaluation the group’s phases and use knowledge: how we press, what kind of urgent we do, xG [a metric that measures the probability of a shot becoming a goal], xA [a metric that measures the probability of a pass becoming an assist], and all the probabilities we create to attain. We analyse why we didn’t rating, for instance. It’s a mixture of video and knowledge. We do any such work each week to know what’s working and what isn’t.”

Does any such work additionally aid you resolve which gamers ought to keep at Milan to proceed their journey and who may not have extra to supply?
“I’ll provide you with an instance. Over two months, you may suppose a participant carried out poorly, however you continue to need to verify the info. You then see that whereas they didn’t carry out properly, they nonetheless created lots. This helps since you understand they’re at the least doing one thing. There are gamers who, even primarily based on the info, don’t do something – zero. They don’t try dribbles, photographs, or duels. So sure, knowledge helps. However the one factor knowledge can’t reveal is a participant’s progress potential. How they’ll develop after two or three years is tough to foretell. It’s an unknown, which is why the coach, the employees, and the scouts who watch gamers dwell are so vital. By seeing them dwell, you may perceive that they’ll enhance, bulk up a bit, or work on their weaker foot. There are a lot of issues knowledge can’t assist with.”

After which there’s Fonseca. How did you resolve on him?
“Paulo has a mode of play, which we noticed at Lille, that I believe Milan wants. At San Siro, we now have to regulate the sport and the ball. We should be stable in these areas. Paulo has a wonderful capacity to work, he does fascinating coaching classes. He works with each people and the group. For instance, he may work with all of the midfielders: after coaching, he’ll take 4 or 5 of them and do particular drills. It’s November now, however by the tip of the season, I’m positive we’ll see many gamers who’ve made important progress underneath him.”

This progress is to consolidate Milan on the high, proper?
“The highest 5 in Europe are Metropolis, Liverpool, Bayern, and so on. We need to attempt to at the least get shut, however it’s not simple. Even Liverpool took eight years to get to this degree, it wasn’t like that earlier than. They did an vital job. Nonetheless, they’d a method with a coach who has a exact taking part in methodology. We need to do any such taking part in methodology with a coach who has clear concepts and develop the gamers.”

So Fonseca’s choices, like how he manages Leão, are all the time supported by the administration?
“Sure, we work collectively each day. And now I believe Leão is a totally completely different participant. Simply take a look at his performances in Madrid, Cagliari, and with the nationwide group. These conditions can occur – nobody is ideal on a regular basis; in any other case, it could be too simple. It’s important to settle for that gamers can have powerful moments and assist them, similar to Zlatan and I did with Rafa, providing him assist and constructive suggestions. We’re a household.”

Can Theo turn out to be much more of a frontrunner and a driving power?
“He’ll. He doesn’t even understand the potential he has but. A left-back like him… I believe he has an awesome profession forward of him; he’s nonetheless younger.”

Did you have got Theo in your database too?
“I’ve had him in there since he performed for Atlético Madrid within the Youth League—I noticed him once I was at Monaco. However then Actual Madrid signed him [smiles]. After that, we tracked him at Alavés and Actual Sociedad, the place he had unimaginable stats. He nonetheless has lots of room for progress. He’s already scoring and aiding lots; it’s very onerous to discover a left-back like him.”

Are you already beginning to determine what this Milan group wants?
“Sure, we’ve already began speaking about numerous profiles. With Ibra, Giorgio Furlani, the coach, Gerry Cardinale… we’ve already had discussions. We roughly know the profiles we wish, however I believe it’ll be extra for June. We’ll begin with the lacking profiles after which create a shortlist.”

Are you able to reveal which of them are lacking?
“No, not but [laughs]. Possibly quickly, but when I discuss now in November, it’ll be tough for us. Within the coming weekends, I would journey to see a few of these gamers, with the scouts.”

So now we have to comply with you and see the place you verify in?
“Possibly I’ll change my identify [laughs]; it’s simpler that method.”

Fofana mentioned that Milan can also be within the working for the Scudetto, however it’s a must to give it a while…
“Sure, I’m positive this group has room to realize that.”

Even this yr?
“Sure. We struggled within the first matches, however we’ve seen that in large video games, like in opposition to Inter and Actual Madrid, we’re there. We’ve actually seen an awesome Milan. We have to intention to see that constantly, focusing extra even within the different matches. It’s a psychological factor. We’re doing every little thing to remain on this path.”

Pulisic is undoubtedly top-of-the-line signings of the previous two years. How did you select him?
“At Dortmund, he was unimaginable, actually robust. Chelsea signed him for a purpose – he’s a participant who can play on the best, the left, as a quantity ten, or behind the striker. In Germany, his stats had been spectacular; at Chelsea, not a lot. We thought it wasn’t attainable for a participant like him to not carry out at a excessive degree within the Premier League. Once we misplaced Brahim Díaz, his identify instantly got here up as an possibility for that market. Timing is every little thing – possibly two years in the past, it could’ve been unattainable. However when the chance arises for a participant like that, it’s a must to seize it instantly.”

In what position do you see him? Winger or within the center?
“Final yr with no consideration winger he had the most effective season of his life. Right now, nevertheless, maybe we’d like him as an attacking midfielder”.

Which signing has given you essentially the most satisfaction at Milan? Maybe as a result of it was a singular negotiation?
“Tijjani Reijnders. He’s a participant who emerged in a while. We adopted him for a few years in AZ’s second group. I went to look at the U20 World Cup in Argentina, and I had already met his agent in Italy. We talked about Reijnders, and the negotiations began in Argentina – it didn’t start within the Netherlands.”

So touring helps?
“In Argentina, all the time [laughs]. Like with Enzo Fernández [who later went to Benfica], I used to be all the time in Argentina. The Reijnders deal began in Argentina in Might. Negotiating with a Dutch membership wasn’t simple, however the membership did properly.”

You’ve informed us about scouting and remark, however as a Technical Director, what are your obligations?
“Since taking over this position, I’ve developed a deeper relationship with the employees and coach. We do lots of video evaluation. I take pleasure in discussing ways with them, how we play, and what we will enhance. Then there’s the ‘locker room side’ – speaking to gamers and asking how their households are doing. It’s a mixture: within the mornings, I’m at Milanello; within the afternoons, I’m at Casa Milan or within the workplace. I’m nonetheless younger, and I’ve lots to do and study. I can’t simply concentrate on one factor or the opposite. It’s vital to be current right here at Milanello, however it’s additionally important to be lively in Europe—seeing what different golf equipment are doing, assembly new administrators, and so forth. I’ve to attempt to know every little thing prematurely to do my job as finest as I can.”

In 2019, you began utilizing a strategy that was comparatively unknown in Italy, going past the basic requirements. Now, many new house owners of Italian golf equipment are adopting this system. Did you achieve a bonus by beginning earlier?
“What I like is that we now have the scouting and knowledge departments working collectively. Beforehand, the 2 departments operated independently. Now all of us work collectively, and I like that. These working with knowledge have realized the necessity for a human factor, whereas we’ve understood the significance of knowledge in uncovering different elements.”

How proud had been you, as a gaggle, to retain Leão when it appeared like issues might have gone in a different way?
“To start with, credit score goes to the membership. They did a wonderful job; it wasn’t simple. When Rafa decides to do one thing – as you noticed in Madrid – no person can cease him. That’s why it’s all the time a good suggestion to carry onto a participant like him. He’s Milan’s quantity 10, and I’m thrilled to have him with us. And it doesn’t finish there.”

Within the course of of selecting a participant, is there a minimal variety of matches you watch, each dwelling and away?
“A minimum of two dwelling video games and two away video games. One other crucial factor is holding conferences with the participant’s entourage. Generally there are ten folks near the participant, and it is advisable know that immediately. You should perceive who they’re and the way they work – not simply the brokers but in addition the household and associates. That’s why we typically journey to satisfy the gamers in individual, not simply to look at their matches. It’s one other key side.”

How do you select a participant worthy of San Siro?
“I like watching matches in opposition to Premier League groups, the place the strain is immense. I additionally take a look at video games involving Turkish or Greek golf equipment. As an example, when a Dutch group performs in that form of surroundings, it’s crucial to see how the participant reacts to the environment. San Siro isn’t simple, in fact. But when we’re afraid of a stadium, that’s not good. A part of our job can also be to assist gamers enhance in that side.”