Conceicao discusses divisions at Milan, consistency issue, Pulisic risk and non-negotiables | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao believes that the game against Girona is a good chance for his players to restart and show they are growing mentally.

Conceicao will get his first taste of Champions League football as the new coach of Milan at San Siro on Wednesday night with a simple mission to continue: win the last two games for a top eight spot.

However, it would be wrong to pretend that the team are coming into the game against Girona full of confidence, given that they were outplayed and outfought by Juventus on Saturday in a 2-0 defeat.

That loss has put the mere concept of even playing in the UCL look season in grave danger, but for now the focus is on rebounding in Europe and trying to create an easier February schedule.

Conceicao – who was reportedly fuming after the Juve loss – spoke to the press at his conference on the eve of the game against the LaLiga side, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

Since you know the Champions League well, is it a coincidence that Milan are doing better in that competition than in Serie A?

“I think every game is different. It’s true that being in the best club competition in the world is always a huge motivation. Big teams like Milan have to work every year to be there. In the league we are working to have the right continuity to be there once again at the end of the year.

“With Porto it was a great pride for 7 years, now we are trying to bring Milan to a higher position in this competition, as our history would like. Tomorrow is very important to move forward.”

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You have repeatedly highlighted the history of Milan. Do you think it could have a weight in the minds of your players? Did you sense something strange in the environment preparing for the match?

“No, the same. This week, despite the little time we had to prepare, the lads were concentrated and focused. I told them after Juve that this is a job on a mental level and I have to be the one as a coach to help them find the right attitude.

“They are showing me this, they are motivated every day to work and have this evolution that we want. The shirts don’t play, the shirts are worn by players who have to show what we want at all levels and in all competitions, not just in the Champions League.”

What explanation did you find for the fact that there is no consistency throughout the ninety minutes?

“That’s what we’re looking for, it’s not that I have to defend myself for what I said: these are things that came from within me. The boys are also aware of what needs to be done.

“We have to look each other in the eye, work on the pitch, believe in what we do and then they understand what wasn’t there and then be consistent in the game. The beauty of football is that it’s a continuous restart.

“After a good game they have to start again to prepare for the next one, the same after a not so good game. This restart is an opportunity to improve.”

Have you ever come across a team like this in your career, that can play only one half and not so much the other? How did you intervene to solve it?

“I’ve had worse things happen, but it happens. We play against opponents, it’s not that if you play against theoretically inferior teams there are moments in which the opposing team is above, it’s part of football.

“There are moments in a match, there are many important details. The basis must not be negotiable. If you have to suffer, you have to suffer, if you have to defend more, you have to defend more, then what matters most is the result.

“Against Juve, did we lack something in the second half? Absolutely. The players are aware that they have to work to improve, and it’s important that there is this basis to have the evolution that we have.”

Images: AC Milan

What do you think this transfer window can bring to your Milan?

“When I said that thing about the changes it wasn’t a criticism but a reality. Tomorrow we have 12-13 players from the first team, three goalkeepers, and three kids: Camarda, Zeroli and Bartesaghi.

“It’s also a message for the fans, the soul of the club: right now we are here, they have to support us, they have to be the twelfth man. Or rather, the first. Without them the club doesn’t exist. Without the soul of the fans the club doesn’t exist.

“I will do everything, the players will do everything, but we need their support. Tomorrow is very important, we are in an emergency and we need everyone: we all win, we all draw and we all lose. I’m not handsome, I’m not nice, that’s fine. But now I’m here.

“The players feel the atmosphere outside. It’s important to all get together. I had to say it, I feel it. I see too many divisions at a historic club. It’s Milan that loses, not me or the players. Milan fans start at one year old and are fans for life. In my opinion it’s very important.”

Will Pulisic be available tomorrow? You have been talking a lot about hunger these days, can a player like Kyle Walker bring a winning mentality to Milan?

“Christian is staying with us, we have training tomorrow morning, let’s see how it goes. I don’t want to risk losing him for a month or two months.

“He could be on the bench but it’s better not to risk it. But he’s staying with us in the retreat. After that, on the other things: tomorrow’s match is the most important thing.”

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The performance of the strikers: do you expect more? Are they functional to your game?

“As a coach and a former player, I have always had the opinion that central defenders and goalkeepers are to blame for goals, just as I don’t agree when you don’t win because the striker doesn’t score: it’s a collective process.

“You have to find a balance, if they do everything I ask of them, that’s fine with me because then the others score: the important thing is the final result. You see the numbers rightly, but as a coach I also see other things.”

How is Pavlovic? How do you rate him as a player?

“He is available to the group. It’s not his fault if he hasn’t played yet, he trained well, also with incredible desire: sometimes he gets out of position and I don’t like that much. The choices are mine, tomorrow we have two central defenders but I can also put a midfielder to play there.”

If it’s not a problem of fatigue, what’s missing?

“It’s a coach’s problem. It’s the coach who has to explain what he wants, it’s me who has to do something more and that’s why I’m here.”

Can a Milan that plays like they did in the first half against Juve do so for 90 minutes, or like they did against Real Madrid, to help them beat their record in this competition and at least reach the semi-final?

“Thank you for these high expectations (laughs). It’s right to say it like this. I was very close when I faced Chelsea and Liverpool in the quarter-finals. I have this things of getting past the quarter-finals.  When I don’t know.

“Can this team do it? We prepare the matches for that. What I can say is that from tomorrow we will do our best to get as far as possible in this competition.”