CONCEIÇÃO: "THE FUTURE IS UP TO US" | OneFootball

Our Champions League campaign is not over yet, and we are back in action against Feyenoord. One place in the Round of 16 of Europe's top competition is up for grabs. The Rossoneri are in The Netherlands, ready for our away leg against the team from Rotterdam tomorrow, Wednesday 12 February, at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the fixture, we had Coach Sérgio Conceição and Tijjani Reijnders's press conference at the De Kuip, broadcast on AC Milan Official App and Milan TV.

SÉRGIO CONCEIÇÃO

CHOICES AND BALANCES "We don't have many options: there are 15 outfield players available, between injuries and those not in the Champions League squad, plus the youngsters. The coaches have to find solutions. We play with eleven players; the balance is achieved with the whole team. We want to do well and find the balance: it's not that if there are a lot of attacking players you score more goals and if you have a lot of defenders you don't concede any. Every game has its moments, and we need this balance."

FOCUS ON DEFENDERS "I rely on everyone, and I have four players who give me a lot of confidence. Every possible pair can do well: they have a good character. I want a high defensive line; they know what to do and what we are working to improve on. They have my trust."

ON CAMARDA "Everyone in the AC Milan squad is a great player. He's got a lot of good qualities, both as a person and in terms of his character, he's a great guy. He's eager to learn and improve. Whoever is here with us is capable of representing this great Club."

ON LEÃO "He's available, as in previous matches. It was my choice not to start him, but when he came on he did well as we wanted him to. He's available, but I'm not saying whether he'll start."

THE RETURN OF GIMENEZ "I've been following Santi for years. All of us in football evolve day by day: he's young, and he has a long way to go. He's already a top-level player. If he scores goals, the whole team can take credit. Just like if Mike doesn't score many goals, it can be because of the whole team's performance. He has the quality to finish off the plays that the team creates. He's very talented. He must continue to work hard: the team needs him with and without the ball. I'm very happy with him and with everyone else at the moment."

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE... "It's a question of results. Coaches always have their bags packed, because in football everything changes quickly. The important thing is to look at the present; the future depends on what we do today. I'm not worried about that. Even at Porto, they told me that maybe I would stay for 3 or 4 months, and instead I stayed for 7 years..."

...BUT FOCUS ON THE PRESENT "It's a special game for everyone. It's important, and we're here because of our own fault - we could already be in the Round of 16. We want to take responsibility for this. The change in technical staff creates different motivations in the group. It's a Champions League game, in a historically difficult stadium. I played there three years ago with Porto. It's a difficult, tough, and heated environment. We, too, have our problems, with players out of action. We will write the history of the match, because the future is up to us. If we go in with the right attitude, putting into play what we have prepared, then there will be a chance of getting a good result."

TIJJANI REIJNDERS

ON GIMENEZ AND THE NEW TEAMMATES "We all want to do our best to make them feel at ease, so we're also helping Santiago. We're ready."

HIS SEASON "I want to continue to do well, as does the whole team. I feel the confidence of the coach and the fans around me, but I don't think about it. My thoughts are only on this game."

FAMILY AND VALUES "My father always taught us to be humble. To me, and to my brother. As a footballer and as a man, it's important for me to always be myself. I have a great relationship with my whole family."

THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW ROLE "I'd be available, of course. We have a new balance in the team and it's important to have that. For me, it's essential to play every game with the right attitude. The good of the group is the most important thing; I just think about doing well and being in shape."

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