Conceicao: UCL top eight is Milan’s ‘second goal’, but we had ‘40 minutes to prepare’ | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao says that finishing in the top eight of the Champions League league phase is the second of two objectives he set when he was appointed as Milan coach the beginning of 2025, but warns that the Rossoneri had just 40 minutes of training on the pitch to prepare for Wednesday’s game against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Rossoneri are aiming to finish the league phase in the top eight, which will secure a spot in the round of 16 without having to go through the play-offs. All 36 teams will simultaneously play on Wednesday night in the final round of league phase fixtures.

Milan are in Croatia to face a Dinamo Zagreb side currently led by Fabio Cannavaro. While a point could be enough to secure a top eight finish, the Rossoneri require three points to keep the situation under their own control.

As is a common complaint before Champions League matches, Conceicao briefly raised the issue of an over-congested fixture schedule, as Milan will play in three different competitions across their next three matches.

“We had 40 minutes on the pitch with the whole group today. For me, it’s not ideal, but we already knew that. We’ve studied and will try to play a good game and get the win,” the Rossoneri coach said during his pre-match press conference.

epa11819127 Players of AC Milan huddle around their head coach Sergio Conceicao (unseen) at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 11 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

Conceicao plays down Calabria confrontation

Conceicao was not particularly interested in discussing his confrontation with Davide Calabria at the final whistle of Milan’s 3-2 win over Parma in Serie A over the weekend, an event that he described as ‘uninteresting’.

“We don’t need uninteresting events to shake us up. That comes with hard work, with the motivation to play in the best club competition in the world. We want to end the league phase in the best possible way. We have motivation every day that we go to Milanello. We have a responsibility to defend a club like Milan, that’s the most important thing.”

epa11854711 Milan’s head coach Sergio Conceicao celebrates winning the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 26 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

Asked if Alvaro Morata requires a rest ahead of the Derby della Madonnina against city rivals Inter this weekend, Conceicao replied: “I understand the question, but we have to think game-by-game.

“I don’t make predictions for two games in advance, that’s no good. When we do that, the results aren’t good. We have to focus on tomorrow, which is important to achieve our second goal. The first was to win the Supercoppa and we did that well. The second is to finish in the top eight in the Champions League.

“We will think about the derby on Thursday, already when we’re on the plane returning home.”

“There are a lot of games left to go, the goal for now is to finish in the top four in the league. As I said in the previous question, we can’t think about the derby on Saturday, let alone the Champions League.

Where do Milan need to improve?

Conceicao also gave an assessment of where he thinks Milan are, as it is almost exactly one month since he was appointed as the successor to Paulo Fonseca.

epa11787602 Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca gestures during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and AC Milan, in Verona, Italy, 20 December 2024. EPA-EFE/FILIPPO VENEZIA

“There are lots of moments in matches where I would like to see the team improve. Sometimes we do well, other times not so much. I’m talking about the quality of play, how we occupy space, the defensive transitions. Coaches always look for perfection, we’re working on all of these details.

“It’s not an excuse, but we have no time. I like to train with the players on the pitch, to see the gaps, the corrections we need to make. But I see positive things as well as the things that haven’t improved yet. The boys believe. It’s better to play a calm game than have to  pull off a comeback.”

Conceicao also gave gis verdict on the Milan squad, insisting that he is ‘happy’ with the players he has at his disposal.

“I see a group of good humans. They are good people. They understand that I have my beliefs in football and in life. They know how we work as a group and they are very respectful, as am I. I came in and changed a lot of things and they accepted it. It doesn’t always  seem like we’ve changed the way that we play, but there are still several things we want to alter. I’m happy with this group.”