GdS: Continuity, solutions and certainties – Conceicao continues final preparations vs. Genoa

In partnership with

SempreMilan

·5 May 2025

GdS: Continuity, solutions and certainties – Conceicao continues final preparations vs. Genoa

AC Milan are limping towards the end of the Serie A season, but tonight’s game against Genoa will still serve a very important purpose.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report, saying the word ‘league’ makes a grimace appears on Sergio Conceiçao’s face. It’s not pain, but anger, regret, disappointment. “Yes, a bit of everything,” the Portuguese coach admitted, with his Milan sadly in ninth place.

OneFootball Videos

Maybe, if he had found the right balance earlier, Milan would be in the running for a European spot Serie A. Instead, the away match at Stadio Luigi Ferraris against Genoa is in all respects only a test in view of the only remaining objective: the Coppa Italia final on May 14 in Rome against Bologna.

How can the Rossoneri get there in the best shape? Conceicao was clear in his press conference on the eve of the match: “I don’t have to manage anything. And it’s not that we play for nothing, we always have the responsibility of representing a big club like Milan.

“We think game by game, improving some aspects of the game. We have to work with this in mind, now we’re thinking about Genoa, then we’ll do it with Bologna.”

Continuity

The new formation, with the 3-4-3 inaugurated against Udinese, has certainly given the Rossoneri a new lease of life: three wins and just one goal conceded in four games. Conceicao himself admitted it.

“Yes, the continuity in the formation is providing balance and the players are starting to understand our requests better. Everyone sees our qualities, but consistency is needed,” he said.

So no changes in sight in Genoa? “There are always setbacks, see Jovic in Venice. Luka is fine now, but I don’t know if he or Gimenez will play. Or rather, I know but I won’t say. They are two different strikers, but they both have quality.

“The choice then depends on the moment or the match. Abraham, Bondo and Sottil, on the other hand, have physical problems and won’t be there.”

Solutions

Aside from the center forward, Conceiçao’s Milan XI seems to have defined contours for the first time. Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic form the defensive trio; then Jimenez, Fofana, Reijnders and Theo Hernandez across the midfield line, plus Pulisic and Leao either side of the striker.

Now, however, the coach also has some credible alternatives. Kyle Walker was seen again against Venezia, someone who knows a thing or two about finals. “He can play in the three or on the right wing. He knows both roles well and for us that’s an advantage”, says Conceiçao.

In addition to the former Manchester City player, the coach can finally count on another Englishman recovering from a physical problem: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. After the injury that kept him out for the first few months of 2025, the former Chelsea player then had to stop due to appendicitis.

Now he is fine and can be an additional solution. Conceicao said: “He is a box-to-box midfielder, he knows how to attack the opponent’s area very well. He is getting better every day, we are counting on him for this final part of the season.”

Certainties

The aforementioned are more surprise cards to play, even during the match. The foundations of the current Milan are rather the names of Reijnders and Pulisic.

The Dutchman has never scored or provided an assist against Genoa, while Captain America signed the last Rossoneri success at the Ferraris with a goal that caused much discussion for a possible handball.

That evening – back in October 2023 – Milan jumped to the top of the Serie A standings for the last time, thanks also to the saves of Olivier Giroud in the unusual role of goalkeeper after Mike Maignan’s red card. It seems like a lifetime ago.