Conceicao discusses 4-4-2 idea, bad starts, preferring 1-0s and Gimenez’s condition | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has poured cold water on the idea of seeing a two-striker formation, but insisted the week of work in training has been good.

It is hard to ignore that there is a feeling of going through the motions when it comes to Milan’s season finale, at least in Serie A. The team sit in ninth place with even the Europa League spot eight points away, and the form in 2025 means there is little chance of a miracle.

Not only that, but Conceicao’s own fate seems to be marked. Virtually every major source is in agreement that he will leave the Rossoneri at the end of the season having failed to engineer the turnaround that was hoped for, with another revolution plotted.

Nonetheless, the team have an obligation to finish the season well and reward the fans who keep following the team through thick and thin. That applies to Friday night’s game against Udinese at the Stadio Friuli.

Conceicao spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello on the eve of the trip to Udine during his pre-match press conference, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

What can you do to show the positive signs from the last two games from minute one?

“We have to understand that games are won from the first to the last minute. This concentration is important, and we talked about this among ourselves. It’s nothing new.

“It’s true that we reacted well afterwards, very well, but we have to be careful and focused from the beginning of the game and concentrate on something important that happened, not just once this year.

“But I think we had a good week, I’m happy with the training sessions. I had answers, good feelings. Let’s hope that tomorrow’s game is a reflection of this week of work.”

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When you look at the table, what do you see?

“I think we have to look every day to work and improve. And then we have to look at tomorrow, to focus on this and not think too far ahead, about what will happen, what we have to take, what we have to conquer. We have to conquer three important points in Udine.”

Why all these changes at half-time and during games?

“It seems like a contradiction, but I don’t want to put players in and take them off after half an hour. It also depends on the opponents. I try to manage it, change, to help the guys on the pitch.”

What happened last year in Udinese with Mike Maignan was very unsavoury…

“We all think that way. I think that by talking about it we are underlining something bad. Mike must concentrate on the game, while the fans support their team. We are not worried, and neither is Mike. If things like that happen later, the competent authorities will resolve them.”

Where would Milan be if you were here from June?

“If I had these magician skills, but I don’t. I have to think a lot about today, about tomorrow, but I don’t know.”

Could you change formation? How will you replace Walker?

“This week a couple of incidents happened that are not under control. However, we need to control the team by preparing it as best we can. I am not satisfied at best.

“There is also a lot in the plan to enter the game very strong, and we are working on that, as well as on different dynamics for the team. Walker has had surgery, we don’t know how long he will be out. He won’t play, but certainly another player will.”

Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

Have you thought about using Jovic from the start?

“Honestly, we’re not a team ready to play with a 4-4-2 yet, we’re not balanced yet with two strikers, Rafa, Theo who attack a lot. We’re working to achieve that, also because having two strikers doesn’t make you more attacking.

“It depends on what you ask of the midfielders and full-backs. Luka likes to play, in the first six months he had injuries that didn’t allow him to. With me he had his minutes, and at the moment he’s a player who gives us something just like all the others.”

Have you worked on building from the back? Has Gimenez recovered?

“Santi has not recovered. Before Fiorentina we worked on building from the back, and we did it again this week.”

Can Florenzi be useful in this final part of the season?

“We have to manage Alessandro with a little balance because he is a boy with a fantastic spirit. He doesn’t train all week. I’m sorry because he is a player with a great mentality, he is a very important group player. I hope that as time goes by he will be in better condition to help the team.”

Can you imagine seeing a Milan waiting with a low block even against weaker teams?

“It also depends on the opponent’s moment. And here in Italy practically all the teams defend man to man, but then it also depends on their build-up, on the midfielders, who is higher, who is deeper.

“I don’t think so, because the game is made up of several moments, then it’s up to us to be good at reading the opponents and attacking them accordingly.”

Do you think you’ve found the key to reactivating the team?

“I don’t like games where you can score seven goals and concede five. I prefer to win 1-0, with solidity, with compactness. We’re working on this, on the entries on the pitch, on the consistency we need to have throughout the entire game.”