Veron reveals the first thing Conceição will do at Milan | OneFootball

Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron defined his former teammate Sergio Conceição as ‘a man of strong principles’ and ‘made of steel’, and he expects him the new Milan manager to avoid ‘unnecessary talk’ and immediately start working to revive what is a difficult campaign for the Rossoneri.

Veron and Conceição spent two seasons together at Lazio, also helping the Biancocelesti to win the Serie A title in 2000 under coach Sven Goran Eriksson, and the former Argentina international believes the coach retained the resolute style he already had in his playing days, as he ‘believes in rules and follows them’.

Conceição joined the Rossoneri after a lengthy experience at Porto, which according to Veron made him ‘ready for any environment’, including a struggling side that he is likely to approach with few and ‘clear’ words to ‘avoid misunderstandings’.

20 Sep 2000: Simone Inzaghi and Juan Veron of Lazio celebrate during the UEFA Champions League match against Sparta Prague at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Lazio won the match 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Dave Rogers /Allsport

Veron: Conceição not ‘afraid of anything’ and will give Milan ‘certainties’

“Sergio is someone you can always count on,” Veron said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I would close my eyes and know I’d find him on the right wing, ready to receive my pass. And then he’s stubborn, gritty, and never gives up—he wanted to win even the small-sided games in training. I’d describe him as an hombre vertical.

“Sergio isn’t afraid of anything. He’s ready to take on the entire world to achieve his goal. His character isn’t just strong; it’s made of steel.

“I don’t think he’ll be fazed by the situation he finds at Milanello. He spent seven years on Porto’s bench, a club that knows all about tension and pressure. And at Porto, he won—a lot. I believe he’s become the most successful coach in the club’s history, which means he’s ready for any environment.

“If I know him well, he’ll arrive, hold a meeting with the team, and explain what needs to be done and what he expects. Few words, all very clear, to avoid misunderstandings. Then straight to the field to work, no unnecessary talk.

“He’s a man of strong principles. He believes in rules, follows them, and never deviates.

“I’ve never been coached by him, of course, but I imagine he’s the same on the bench. He has a method, he applies it, and I believe he demands his players give everything on the pitch.”

FC Porto coach Sergio Conceicao reacts as he addresses a press conference at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, on September 12, 2022, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League, Group B, first leg football match between FC Porto and Club Brugge. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Concerning Conceição’s playing style, the former Inter player noted that he seems to prefer ‘vertical football’, adding that he also had the chance to learn some valuable lessons from Eriksson.

“I watched several matches on TV, especially in the Champions League,” the ex-midfielder continued.

“Sergio seems to me like an old-school coach, which I prefer. Vertical football, little tiki-taka, and above all, the fundamental principle: the players create the game on the pitch, not the coach on the drawing board. He learned that from Eriksson, and we all owe him that lesson.

“Sergio often uses the 4-4-2 formation. He likes wingers who push forward and track back, just like he used to, and in midfield, he wants a thinking man. But I’m the president of Estudiantes here in Buenos Aires, so I can’t move… Jokes aside, his teams are physical, focus heavily on pressing, and rely on speed.”

The 49-year-old believes that the repeated changes of formation under Fonseca may have somehow affected their consistency, which is why he thinks that giving ‘some certainties’ to his new players will be the first thing he’ll try to do in his opening weeks at the helm.

“I think he’ll try to give the team some certainties,” Veron said.

“The structure of the group on the pitch must always be the same—at least, that’s my view. This means having a base lineup to work on.

“Once things are on the right track, you can think about making changes to give someone a rest, rotate players ahead of an important fixture, and so on. But constantly changing the formation doesn’t make sense, in my opinion—it ends up with players not knowing each other perfectly.

“Look at Inter with my friend Simone Inzaghi: the starting team is clear, and the results are there for all to see, both in Italy and Europe.”