AC Milan’s new coach Conceicao is ready to face Juventus – and his son Francisco

Conceicao will play for the first time as Milan coach tomorrow night in Riyadh in the semi-final of the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus. He spoke to the press this morning.

How did you find the team? What did you like and what didn’t you like?

“Honestly, I found a team that is humble, that wants to learn, that wants to understand what the coach has to do. This is very important, it is the basis for doing quality work in my opinion. We had little time to work but we were thorough in passing on what was needed.”

What does it mean to start with a game like the one against Juventus?

“They are all different games, also thinking about my past as a footballer. The timing is what it is: if you had asked me if I would have liked more time to work and all the players who available, I would have said yes. But I knew that since I arrived and there must be no excuses: we have to face Juve with our heads held high There are two training sessions left before the game, we want to be thorough in what we want to do, understand easily what is important in the game to try to win, for us it is fundamental.”

You meet your son Francisco right away. Does it add emotion?

“They’ve already asked me: I’m not excited at all, I’m a professional. I’ve got a cold and I’ve had a fever these days, if you see my eyes are a bit shiny it’s because of that. .At home I am his father, tomorrow my son will be my opponent: he will think the same way, I want to beat him as he wants to beat me.

Is it easier to start with a challenge of this level, given Milan’s situation?

“It’s not easier or more difficult, we have to work. We work the same regardless of the opponent, we want to improve the situations that I think we can improve. I’ n know the moment is not good, but we have to change it and only he can’t do that with them Words are meaningless, in these big clubs the results count in the end and that’s what we’ll try to get, starting out tomorrow.”

Your son likes to call his style free football. Did you expect such an impact in just a few months?

“He has the characteristics of a quality player, technically and in terms of understanding the game and tactics. He has physical qualities, he knows it and he has grown up like this. I am happy to have coached him, he has good quality and it’s not easy to play with me. He can have a great career, here in Italy or anywhere in the world.”

What do you think of Juve Motta?

“They have a lot of quality players, young and hard working. They understand: they are the team that have conceded the fewest goals in Serie A, they work with” each other and we have to see how we can dismantle their defensive organization. I don’t want to hold talent, but we have to work together as a team That’s the only way football works .”

What do you think about Tomori, also in terms of the market?

“I didn’t talk about the market, I don’t like to talk about individuals. Tomori is part of the group and that’s the most important thing for me.”

What do you want to be remembered for in Milan?

“I don’t like to talk like a visionary, I think about working every day. Tomorrow we will play in a full stadium, we win a lot: what more can you ask for? We must be happy and thank the talent which God has given us.

Did you watch Milan-Juve again in the league?

“I saw two teams with more fear of losing than desire to win, this is the idea I got. However, there are very good players, tomorrow we must have the desire to compete and win, also looking at the offensive part against quality players.”

How do the players fare tomorrow night?

“I’m not a doctor. There are players who haven’t returned yet, there are some who have only had one training session. We’ll see.”

You have been compared to Allegri, Conte, Simeone.

“I have great respect for everyone but we all have different ways of understanding football. The coaches he appointed are fantastic, they have already shown that they are first class. I am convinced that I have to bring results to Milan and I have to be Judged on this basis, we have to respond starting tomorrow.”

What do you think about Saudi Arabia?

“We were received in a very nice way, the team has nothing and I would like to thank them for the hospitality.”

Is coaching Milan a risk?

“Life is like that, you take risks. If I didn’t want to reach this level I would have stayed at home, near Coimbra. It’s not a risk, Milan is a pleasure and a source of pride.”

What do you think about the Arab football movement?

“I followed it a little, there are also quality Portuguese players and coaches. I think it has grown a lot as a championship: you feel the passion and you grow, there is a lot of quality players have led Arab football to evolve.”

What do you think about tomorrow?

“I can’t say what my intentions are, otherwise I would make Thiago happy. Other Milan super cups? It doesn’t matter, they were played with another coach and now I’m here. Let’s think about doing our best tomorrow.”