Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joked about being able to go on and lend AC Milan a hand against Inter, while he suggested the club will do January business.
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Milan and Inter will play for the first trophy of the domestic season as they contest the Supercoppa Italiana final in Saudi Arabia tonight for the second time in three years.
The Nerazzurri go into the game as the big favourites, having won five games in a row across all competitions without conceding a goal. Denzel Dumfries’ brace against Atalanta fired them into the final on Thursday.
In his pre-match press conference, Conceicao did admit that Milan have four or five players that are not in the best condition. He has chosen to make one change to the team that came from behind against Juventus on Friday, with Yunus Musah starting over Ismael Bennacer.
Ibrahimovic – the Senior Advisor to RedBird Capital and Milan – was interviewed by Mediaset not long before kick-off, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.
Is it more difficult to experience these nights as a player or as a director?
“The adrenaline is there, then it was nicer to be on the pitch. Playing football is the most beautiful thing… Now I’m gaining experience as a manager, but the adrenaline is there. That’s for sure.”
How is Conceiçao doing?
“The team is reacting well, there is energy and harmony. The whole team is fired up. They are doing a great job, the new coach has been there for a few days. But something has already happened, the team are accepting the situations well.”
Are you ready to get angry too?
“It’s a nice balance, now I’ll take a step back: I hug, he beats. But if he’s not enough, I’ll come.”
How do you prepare for a derby? What advice did you give to the guys?
“The players have experience of this derby. The derby is always special, there is respect. It is more than a match. You prepare for it focused, under control, then you have to have this desire to win.
“We did everything to be here. Then it is a match that you have to win, there are no excuses or anything else. When you enter the field, only winning matters.”
Will a Supercoppa win change anything regarding transfers?
“We are evaluating some transfer situations, discussing various things, something will happen. We are talking to the new coach, he needs to be involved, but right now he is too concentrated on the final and we haven’t spoken to him about it yet. The club always has a plan, a strategy, and it is all under control.”
In attack, in defence, in midfield?
“We have to talk about it with the new coach, but he is too focused on this final and we haven’t talked yet. As a club, however, there is always a strategy, a plan: everything is under control.”
Leao has recovered, how much impact can he have?
“When you enter the field you don’t feel anything, you get an adrenaline rush and you feel too good. And you go 200%. There are no excuses, you enter and believe me, the pain is not felt even if you play with one leg. This will be felt by Leao and everyone on the bench, but also everyone who starts from the beginning.”
So you can play too?
“I can do the last 5-10 minutes (smiles).”