Conceicao explains Milan choices against Juventus on debut | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao explains why he chose Fikayo Tomori to start for Milan against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana, but ‘Francisco is an opponent today, after the match I can be his father again.’

It kicks off at the Al-Awwal Park Stadium in Riyadh at 19.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The winners will be decided after 90 minutes or penalties, without the need for extra time, and go on to face Inter in the Final on Monday.

It has been a strange few days in the Rossoneri camp, because Paulo Fonseca was fired on Monday and replaced by Sergio Conceicao, who makes his debut here.

The new coach also switches to a 4-3-3 formation with Alex Jimenez in the more advanced role, as Rafael Leao, Samuel Chukwueze and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are injured.

Conceicao feeling Milan fever

If he didn’t have enough issues to deal with, Conceicao has also been struggling with flu symptoms and a fever, to the degree his presence on the touchline was in doubt.

“It is an extra difficulty, we need to overcome them all, the important thing is that the team plays well and wins,” Conceicao told Sport Mediaset.

Having worked together at FC Porto, tonight Sergio Conceicao faces his son Francisco as an opponent, with the Juventus winger up against Theo Hernandez. Did the coach have any particular advice on how to deal with his son?

“We are looking at the whole Juve team, not just one player. Naturally, individual talents are important, but Francisco is an opponent today. After the match, I can be his father again, but today he is an opponent.”

Tomori has been heavily linked with a potential January move to Juventus, so does starting him against them signify his future will change at Milan under new management?

“I ask, what player here in the Juve and Milan squads are not interesting? They are all interesting,” assured Conceicao.

“If Tomori plays today, it is because I feel that he is an important player to start this match. I have faith in Pavlovic, I have faith in Gabbia, I chose Tomori and Thiaw today, but I am counting on everyone.”