AC Milan are wounded after their loss in the Champions League, but they have a chance to bounce back this weekend against Torino.
It has been a season of downs for Milan. Things have gone from bad, to worse, to terrible and the knock-out in the Champions League has left the Rossoneri looking very vulnerable, for now and in the longer term.
Not only are the side now needing some positive momentum, but the chances of top European football next season have been lowered, which could have a huge effect on the squad moving forward.
For example, the Diavolo will have less money there to invest in the squad, whilst also running the risk of having to let players go who wish to play in the Champions League.
Now though, we must just focus on the present, and Conceicao spoke about the Torino game to the press this afternoon and Milan News have relayed his words.
Is tomorrow crucial to focus only on the championship?
“It’s an important match against a difficult opponent who in 2025 has only lost against Bologna. It’s a complicated away game for Milan, I’ve seen the results of recent years. Our Champions League final is tomorrow and every match must be like this.”
How is the team doing?
“After a match, you immediately start working for the next one. I saw the group already focused, even if obviously the elimination hurt everyone. We had prepared the match well, but in football the incidents count for a lot.
“I always say that football is simple, but inside this simplicity, there are many complex things. We must continue our evolution and work.
There is little time, also because of our fault because we could have already been in the Champions League round of 16. We must think about fourth place and the Coppa Italia. Today I saw the boys well.”
Is Theo playing tomorrow?
“I don’t like to talk about the colour of his hair: for me black, white or yellow it’s all the same, as long as they are professionals and give their all.
“I spoke to him at the end of the match. He is an asset to the club, he knows he did something that put the team in difficulty. He is available to play tomorrow.”
Did you expect all these difficulties?
“You watch other leagues more, but there is pressure in the Portuguese one too, so I’m used to it. I know that Milan’s history is fabulous, made up of great protagonists among coaches, players and managers. I have enormous respect for this history.
At this moment when you don’t win, in a team of this size, there is more talk and there is more fragility. I knew it would be difficult. I’m here because for me it’s a great challenge. I had other offers, but I chose here because I like difficult things.”
Can you explain why Joao Felix was not replaced?
“I’m the coach and I make my choices. Gimenez had some problems in the last few weeks, I asked him how he was and he told me he was tired. Either I put another centre forward like Abraham or a player to have more mobility.”
How are the players doing?
“Walker is not available tomorrow. My choices will depend on the conditions of each individual player. Pulisic doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs, Gimenez is improving but is not yet at his best. When I arrived several players were injured or in difficulty.
“Some like Loftus-Cheek have not yet returned. Since I’ve been here we’ve played every three days, so it’s not easy to manage the situation. In hindsight we are all great coaches: I win all the games at the end of the game.”
What kind of team are Torino?
“They have very interesting players, like Ricci for example. In their approach to every match I always see a team that wants to get a positive result. So we have to be at our best. We have to take control of the match.”
Is your challenge to turn this negativity into positive things?
“I’m not someone who calculates: I don’t want to think about the end of the season. I live things every day with great intensity. I bring work home and my family isn’t happy, but that’s how it is. I don’t always do things well, but we work very passionately every day.
We prepared today’s training yesterday, we made the videos: this is my concern. Today it’s been 31 years since my mother died, I was 18 and I lost my father two years ago: if these are the difficulties of football, I’m not afraid of anything. And so I continue on my path.”
Did the players talk to each other?
“I like it when it’s like this, it’s better to say what you think. The group is growing also from this point of view, it’s right to say things to people’s faces. I prefer something bad but true, than something good but not true. I like this thing.”
A month and a half after your arrival, have you identified the team’s problems?
“Yes, we talked about it with the team. We are working on these aspects.”
Is the Milan you want to see the one from the first 50 minutes against Feyenoord? Can the front four play together?
“Yes, that’s what I want. We’re growing, we’re not at the top yet, but we’re getting better and better. I want an aggressive team to prevent the opponents from getting in front of our goal. I want a short and compact team. For me, we can play this type of game, obviously always with balance.”
