AC Milan secured their spot in the Coppa Italia semi-finals thanks to a 3-1 win against Roma this evening. After the game, Sergio Conceicao was interviewed by the media and he spoke very highly of the supporters.
Milan managed to take the lead just 16 minutes into the game as Tammy Abraham found the back of the net with a great header. The Englishman added a second just before the break, and then the new signing Joao Felix sealed the deal in the second half.
It was certainly one of the better performances under Conceicao especially from an attacking point of view, while the same back line that started in the derby once again held firm at the right moments to ensure a relatively comfortably evening.
Speaking to Mediaset after the game, as transcribed by MilanNews, Conceicao gave his thoughts on the cup win and the importance of having the backing from the fans.
Was this the best performance from your Milan side?
“A good match. There were moments that I didn’t like but it’s part of the game: we have to keep working. I have to give a word to the fans, they were good with the team: it’s a different environment, coming here to the stadium in the cold on Wednesday is a fantastic help. The victory was deserved.”
How important are the fans?
“The fans make the difference, it’s like playing with an extra man. They are very important for us, they are not the tenth or second player on the pitch but they are the first: without them the clubs do not exist. We won a match but there are three more to go to win a trophy. Now we are thinking about Empoli.”
Empoli are up next for Milan and although tonight’s win was positive, they need to get back to winning ways in the league as well. Perhaps we will get to see one or more of the new signings from start in the game, scheduled for Saturday evening. Conceicao also spoke to Mediaset.
Did you see the fundamentals you always talk about tonight?
“I was talking about things that are essential in football and in life: passion, ambition, the desire to be stronger tomorrow than today.”
Are you satisfied?
“We try to give the team what we want. We only had one training session yesterday to prepare for this match: all the phases of the game are trained and I don’t have this opportunity, because we play every three days.
“But the players accept what we want. And I’m happy. The second goal is a recovery in midfield that we worked on. Even the two players who came on attacked straight away.”
A nice goal by Joao Felix…
“Yes, but there are three games left to win the trophy. Now let’s think about Empoli: it will be very difficult. We are having difficulties in the league, but we hope to continue on this path with the evolution that I want on an individual level so that it is then also reflected in the collective.”
Is balance useful?
“Balance is fundamental. Even today, in some moments of the match, I saw signs that I didn’t like.
Can Leao do more?
“Ah, yes. Much more. Much more. He has incredible qualities. He has to think that he is important when he has the ball at his feet, but when he doesn’t have the ball he is also important. He has to make himself available at all moments of the game for the team.
“I know that getting out of his comfort zone is not easy, but for me his work is essential. He can be a player of another level if he understands certain things that we are working on every day.”
Will the signings help you? Is it a team more similar to your Porto?
“Not yet. With these players who have arrived we can work better to go the way I like, to play with two up front, for example… Scoring goals and not conceding them.”
I already feel sorry for Empoli…. lol
I laugh as well but with humility because this team just had one game with probably all the new signings on the pitch. Santiago is still too slow but his passing and turning is obvious but he needs to get scoring or else I am afraid for his confidence.
I will keep saying this, Santiago has a very difficult 6 months because the club is not in a good place in the table or away from the pitch. So his mental strength will be tested for the rest of the season. I also say the same thing about Felix but as he is only here on a dry loan I am more concerned on the guys here permanently.
Santi is slow, he will never be a pacey player. He’ll have to compensate with other aspects of his game (like that beautiful assist tonight)
Giroud was never a fast player but always made the difference. Its about how well he can position himself. Let wish him well to succeed at Milan
Bro r u American cause u sound so, what the f… u talking about ? Giminez will do great he had just 1 training session and he is not slow but thats what the Trainer wanted from him in the phase where we were winning 3-1 what u expect a miracle ? Wait till he learns the automatism of the games and gets more fluid, one moment I thought he will score but the donkey mussah got on his way, wich I guess will be a problem and I hope Bondo or Sotil will bench Musah, cause he has a fisch brain and 0 IQ, he is blocking the atacking players path way, cause he cant read the game.
The experts here repeat the same old phrases about everyone: X is too old, X is too slow, X is injuryprone.
They don’t know any other attributes so they keeps saying that for everyone. Walker was too old and slow too.
Yes, it’s really annoying how too many are just mindlessly repeating stale phrases.
Stochastic parrots indeed. But it shows you in general how people are.
I don’t think he’s worried or we need to. Could have walked away with 2 assists in 20 minutes. I liked what I saw and I don’t think anyone needs to worry.
I hope this Milan will become a team that would be afraid of by any team.
So we’ll be seeing a fair amount of 442 or 4132 on offense, based on his comment.
Felix will be either a withdrawn striker or a CAM. He works better in tighter spaces than Puli.
——————-Santiago——-————
Leao————J Felix——Pulisic——
————TJ/Musah—Fofana———
Theo——Pavlo—-Tomori—-Walker
No more 4231 pls!
Go for your 442
Coach is directly implying that Leao is lazy. Leao focus and be in the game 100%, not in patches
Finally,
We see a coach focused on winning trophies
I guess scoring more than you concede is a “style” of football. The next 5 months are going to be an audition for Leao. Theo is gone, and Leao stays or goes depending on how he does in this “Conceicaoball”. Summer 2025 is going to be the summer of the left side and central midfield.
Yes lets hope everyone leaves and Milan get dismantled then everyone can gotcha the management
Thats more important than Milan doing well
I don’t think that’s what we’re doing, but actually it’s a “style” of football that serve Madrid very well in the 00s and served Man City very well for years until Rodri got injured and the space in behind became too big.
Goal-gluts and trophies sounds ok to me.
Man why isn’t for real Gimenez on free kick i meant ?