Van Bommel discusses Milan-Feyenoord tie, Reijnders’ rise, Leao’s level and Conceicao | OneFootball

Mark Van Bommel believes that AC Milan lacked aggression and intensity in the first leg against Feyenoord, something that they must fix in the second leg.

Van Bommel is someone who knows what it means to play for Milan and to win with the Rossoneri, arriving from Bayern Munich in 2010 to add experience and leadership. He made 50 appearances and won the league title in 2010-11, as well as the Supercoppa Italiana too.

As a Milan player he lived close to San Siro and now he lives not far from Maastricht, and from his Dutch living room he follows a lot of football on TV. From Serie A to the Eredivisie, where his son Ruben is showing off at AZ Alkmaar.

He will have been tuned in to the game last Wednesday night at De Kuip, in which Igor Paixao scored the only goal three minutes in to claim a famous win for Feyenoord. Milan were not really at the races in that game, and Van Bommel previewed the second leg in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Mark, did you expect the Milan you saw in Rotterdam?

“I completely agree with what Conceiçao and the players said at the end of the match. It was a Milan that was not very intense, that lacked aggression. It’s a shame because we’re talking about a very competitive group, of the highest quality, that however struggles to express itself as a team.

“Individually the players are very, very strong. But if determination is lacking it’s like playing at a 6 [out of 10]. I’m not saying that you always have to be a 10, but at least an 8. If you don’t express yourself to the maximum you make life easy for the opponent and that’s what happened in Holland.”

More Stories / The Match

Van Bommel discusses Milan-Feyenoord tie, Reijnders’ rise, Leao’s level and Conceicao

18 February 2025, 12:25

GdS: Predicted XIs for Milan vs. Feyenoord – Leao and Felix start but Pulisic on bench

18 February 2025, 11:40

CorSport: Ibrahimovic spurs Milan on – ‘sensational Euroflop’ not an option

18 February 2025, 11:00

Will it be different at San Siro?

“The atmosphere at the Meazza is incredible, it can make the difference. I remember it perfectly, the Curva sings throughout the match. Playing the second match at home is always an advantage, in this case even more so. Milan must take advantage of the chance: moving forward in the Champions League is a necessity.”

Do you expect the ‘super attacking team’ from the first leg?

“In this case, everyone’s help is essential. Even the attackers have to put pressure on the opponents so as not to put their teammates in difficulty. Everyone has to do it, even Leao…”

On Rafa, you have played with so many champions, is Leao at that level? Or what does he have to add to his repertoire to join the group?

“He’s an extraordinary player. He’s fast, he’s physically strong, I don’t think even he’s fully aware of how strong he is. First of all, he has to find consistency: he considers it a challenge with himself. And then, as the coach says, he has to support the defensive phase.

“Do you know who he reminds me of? Robben and Ribery, who I played with at Bayern Munich. At the beginning, they weren’t too involved in defence: when they started to help out, that team became unbeatable. They combined competitive nastiness with their quality.”

Reijnders does that but in another role, did you expect him to become a leader?

“He is a very intelligent player. He defends, he attacks, he gets involved, he scores. He is a ‘team player’, an all-round man. I knew he would reach the top even if it was not easy at all. Moving from AZ to Milan is a big leap and he immediately settled into the new reality. Even if I think that Serie A is the perfect fit for his characteristics.”

Speaking of personality, did you think your former team-mate Ibrahimovic could pursue a managerial career?

“Together we won the Scudetto, he has a very strong character that pushes him to always seek success and this fits with Milan’s DNA. Today’s role is different, but I saw that in the last two transfer windows, between last summer and January, he tried to build a team that reflected his idea of ​​football.

“I hope and believe he succeeded: Milan, given its history, cannot remain outside the top four of the Italian championship and the Champions League, even if today in Serie A there are six or seven competing for the top places.”

It is a job that Conceiçao must devote himself to first and foremost, is he the right coach?

“Today I do the same job as him so it’s unfair to talk about the work of a colleague. But he started very well with the victory in the Supercoppa, he changed and readjusted the team: in addition it’s never easy to come in during the season.

“It’s true, sometimes the team doesn’t have his character in all respects, but it’s not such an immediate transmission: it takes time and training. He’s a fanatic of work, what he did at Porto shows it.”

And would you like to coach in Italy?

“For all coaches, Serie A is a great challenge: the level is very high. Obviously I would like to test myself too: I look for dominant football. I consider Milan home: I arrived at 34, late, but a great connection was immediately created with the fans.

“I know that in the summer there was talk of me as a Rossoneri coach but I confess that no one came after me. I have had no contact with Ibra.”