Conceicao discusses first month at Milan, UCL hopes and ‘game by game’ approach | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has reflected on his first month of work at the club, insisting there is still a lot to do to get to where he wants.

Going in to the final round in the first phase of the Champions League, Milan face a simple mission: win to secure a spot in the top eight and thus direct qualification for the last 16.

A draw might well be enough given that the teams who can catch the Rossoneri have tough games or in some cases play each other, but the message must be to secure a victory to leave it beyond doubt.

Moreover, another three points could see Milan climb higher than their current sixth spot in the standing and they would love to finish above Inter, while there is prize money at stake for every result too.

The Rossoneri coach will have to do without Emerson Royal (injured) and Davide Calabria (suspended), while an on-field argument with the latter made the headlines on Sunday. It seems that Fikayo Tomori is the favourite to play right-back, with Kyle Walker and Alex Jimenez ineligible.

Conceicao spoke to the reporters who gathered in the press conference room at the Stadion Maksimir on the eve of the game, with his responses transcribed by MilanNews and translated below.

How were your preparations for the match?

“Today we played on the pitch with the whole group for 40 minutes, for me it’s not ideal but we know it. With what we study we try to play a positive game and win.”

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It’s been a turbulent few days. Did that incident with Calabria shake things up?

“We don’t need things that aren’t interesting to give us a boost. The boost comes with work, with the motivation of playing in the best club competition in the world. We want to conclude this phase in the best possible way.

“We find motivation every day when we go to Milanello. We have this responsibility to defend a club like Milan. It’s the most important thing.”

Does Morata need a rest?

“I understand the question. But I think game by game, I don’t do calculations two games at a time. It’s not good. I didn’t start yesterday, when we do that the results are not good. We have to focus on tomorrow which will be important and difficult to achieve the second objective.

“The first was to win the Supercoppa and we did it well, the second objective is to finish in the top eight in the Champions League. We are focused on this match, we will think about the derby on Thursday already on the plane going home.”

Can this team win the Champions League?

“There are many games left, the goal is to finish in the top four. I said it in the previous question: we can’t think about the derby, let alone the Champions League. Looking ahead we don’t see the steps that are in front of us and we risk stumbling.”

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

From Riyadh to Zagreb, your first month at Milan is almost complete. How has the team improved and what would you like to see improved?

“There are many moments in the game where I would like to see the team improve: sometimes we do well, other times not so much. When we have the ball, I talk about quality of play, occupation of space, the defensive transitions that we must have…

“Coaches always look for perfection, we work on all these details. It’s not an excuse, but there’s no time. I like to train the players on the pitch, see the spaces, see the corrections to make. But I also see positive things, as well as things in which we haven’t improved or only a little.

“The boys believe in it, then it’s better to play a calm game than to come back from behind. It’s important to look at this spirit and also put in other things to win more calmly.”

Can Milan be reborn through the words of a song by Lazza?

“I don’t need songs. We are working to get to the end of the season and have achieved these goals. Being reborn means that there is a negative situation, we must concentrate on work. Every day that passes we know each other well. These things make people talk, individuals.

“I am Portuguese, I have a different culture but the language of football is universal: there is training for two hours a day and then there is normal life, to be faced with professionalism. It is not a call to attention for anyone, the world has not ended because of a concert.

“I spoke with the players, I have my rules and so does the club. It does not matter for tomorrow, the most important thing for tomorrow is to think about Dinamo and what we can do to win.”

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How are the squad?

“I see a very good group on a human level. They are good men. They understand that there is my thought about football and our sporting life. Since they know how we work as a group they are very respectful, as am I.

“The coach must see what group he has in front of him, they are a good group. I arrived and changed a lot of things and they accepted it. It doesn’t seem like we have changed the way we play but there are several things we want to change. I am happy with this group.”

From Porto to Milan, the European DNA is in both…

“They are two great clubs. I think Porto are among the top with the most appearances, Milan are the second club for trophies won. History does not go on the pitch. DNA is important, the atmosphere that is created in this competition is beautiful.

“There is also the other part, the motivation that they have in front of historic clubs. Tomorrow we face a team that still hopes to go to the playoffs, it will be very difficult.

“Milan and Porto were world champions, this weight on one hand is positive and on the other it is also positive for the opponents.”