Conceicao discussion cup importance, Leao choices, Gimenez’s struggles and Milan journey | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has previewed the Coppa Italia derby against Inter, while commenting on certain individuals and his time in Italy so far.

It has not been an easy past few weeks for Conceicao nor for Milan. A trio of losses against Torino, Bologna and Lazio effectively ended the top four hopes, only for a brief rekindling to be firmly stamped out by Napoli on Sunday.

Not only that, but the Rossoneri now sit ninth in the table and thus are set to miss out on European competitions altogether barring a late surge. That is why the Coppa Italia takes on extra importance, given it is a route into the Europa League.

Conceicao spoke to the reporters present at Milanello for his pre-match press conference on the eve of the first leg against Inter, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

It’s a first leg derby, how much can it affect the overall tie? How were your derby experiences?

“They were important matches for us because it decided a title. The derby is always an important match, for the context, for everyone. The moments are different.

“Some players are also different on the pitch and let’s try to play a good match. Inter are a very strong team, with solid work, but we want to enter the match strong and achieve what we want, which is to win.”

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How are Leao and Thiaw. Can a night like this bring the best out of Leao?

“The group is fine. Ruben also had surgery, he is fine. He will be back today. They are all available. We still have tomorrow to work, today we did differentiated work for those who played more in Naples. Tomorrow we will do it again, without any intensity. Everyone is available, so it is up to me to choose.

“Of course after the match I am better at understanding what I should or shouldn’t have done. Tomorrow we present a strong starting eleven and I think that the players who are on the bench have already given a fantastic response.”

Is this derby a last resort for Europe?

“We have this awareness that we have a game to play, and not all these situations. We have to enter the game strong and win. It is clear that it is the shortest road to get to Europe. In the league, however, there are still games to play and win.”

Have you spoken to Santiago Gimenez in recent days?

“A period of settling in is absolutely normal. Gimenez arrives, scores 4.5 goals, then has a decline. But it happens to all players because the Italian league is one of the best in the world.

“The biggest help I can give him is that when I arrived in Italy they called me a dud, then I scored in the Supercoppa final against Juventus and they called me a ‘dud’. Sometimes it’s better to leave him in his space and earn the trust he has.”

What is more paradoxical, the 20-point gap to Inter or the fact that Inter have not won against Milan this season?

“They are all different games. The league went as you know. Inter are doing well, Milan also won the title a few years ago. I think one thing is that the derby, these big challenges, are always different.

“It’s been a strange year in terms of the league season, it’s true that Milan is not used to this ranking. The most important thing is to focus on tomorrow’s match.”

What are your thoughts on Joao Felix?

“The same thing I said about Santi. It’s not easy. But this is normal between players, I like those who talk because communication is very important. Personality, communication.”

How satisfied would winning the Coppa Italia make you with your journey at Milan?

“I don’t know. Satisfied for sure because I would win another trophy. But first we have to win the semi-finals, then the final. I don’t like living this, I like living with intensity day after day and trying to improve the team on a professional level, correct some of the defects I have as a coach.

“My thought every day is to work hard and improve the team and myself. Now thinking about how I will feel in two months, a month and a half, I don’t know. Right now I’m not the happiest in the world for what I’ve experienced in these three months.

“The team’s relationship is great, and you could see that in Naples in the second half. We need to improve certain things you said, but in any case it’s not easy for anyone. Also because my name is Sergio, not Sergini.”

Why haven’t you managed to bring balance to this Milan yet?

“The balance is for the whole team, not just the defensive line. I’m a coach who likes to have a compact team. But having a compact team when we’re not ‘heavy’ in pressing up front, we don’t have a collective behaviour with what we think, is more difficult and we’re more vulnerable.”

Are you a league or cup coach?

“Coaches either win or they don’t. Of course, there’s also the weight of the title, but these distinctions don’t exist, for sure.”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

What have you not seen from Leao in these months?

“It’s not that I met Rafa in the Supercoppa. I know many players, it’s not that I only know him from the Supercoppa, because I already knew him from Portugal. Afterwards there is a whole evolution that he must have.

“If he plays it is intermittent, if afterwards he comes in and makes the difference he should have played from the start. I am also perplexed by people who talk about football the way they do. I have to say it.

“Rafa I continue with the same opinion: in terms of quality he is one of the best in the world. Afterwards you have to put him out and have the consistency to get to the end of the season with 25 goals and many assists. If he finds this continuity he will be one of the best in the world.

“He must find this continuity. Don’t ask me why he doesn’t play or doesn’t play. These are choices that we make because we see here every day, and that’s how it is, and we know things, physical management, how he arrived, how he didn’t arrive. I am the one who decides, they pay me for this.”

Is this a difficult moment to manage Milan?

“I have nothing to do with these wars. I speak as a coach. I am focused on winning titles. I have won some, 13, so that’s it. I am in this situation, in ninth place, when in Portugal with teams that I was fighting not to be relegated I was higher. I am a coach who fights every match to win and reach important goals, not for ninth place.”

This match in such a disappointing season, can it make the difference?

“We can see the glass half full and empty. If we have to talk, see how many years Milan hasn’t won two titles. Of course, in terms of the standings it’s critical, at this moment it’s not Milan. Tomorrow’s match is important because it allows us to get closer to a final, to a title.”