Tue Oct 01 23:37:22 UTC 2024: ## Milan Loses Again in Champions League, But Manager Sees Progress Despite Defeat
**LEVERKUSEN, Germany** – AC Milan suffered their second consecutive loss in the Champions League, falling to Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 on Tuesday. Despite the defeat, manager Paulo Fonseca praised his team’s performance, claiming it was their best since he took charge.
Fonseca expressed his disappointment with the result but lauded his team’s courage and the impressive form they displayed, particularly in the second half. He highlighted a late challenge by Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie on Ruben Loftus-Cheek, arguing that it should have been awarded as a penalty. “For me, it’s a penalty, it’s an intervention on the line,” Fonseca stated. “What’s strange is that they haven’t even reviewed the situation.”
Milan struggled in the first half, with Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface opening the scoring six minutes into the second half. However, Fonseca attributed the early difficulties to Leverkusen’s strong performance on the flanks. He emphasized his satisfaction with the team’s defensive resilience despite the challenges.
Despite the loss, Fonseca remains optimistic, highlighting the team’s growth and potential. “I honestly think the result is not fair, in the second half we created many clear chances,” he said. “It’s true that we didn’t win, but there was an improvement in our growth. It was evident. This is why we must move forward, because the growth is evident.”
This defeat adds further pressure on Milan, who face a crucial challenge to recover and secure their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
First Piper 