Conceicao hoping for positive start to life as Milan boss: “It is important to win’ | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao insisted that the team understand what they must do to beat Juventus, which includes his son Francisco.

Conceicao was only announced as the new head coach of Milan a few days ago, but he is already being thrust into the fray with his first game in charge being against arguably the club’s fiercest rivals Juventus.

He has only had a few training sessions with his new team as a result and they will face a well-drilled Thiago Motta side who have lost once all season. Not only that, but Conceicao is still struggling with illness, something that he revealed in his pre-match press conference yesterday.

His first starting line-up contains three changes from Paulo Fonseca’s last against Roma, with Ismael Bennacer and Fikayo Tomori returning. The Portuguese spoke to SportMediaset in the build-up to kick-off and gave his thoughts ahead of the game, which have been relayed by MilanNews.

How are you? Has the fever gone down?

“I said we have to overcome the difficulties. The important thing is that the team understands what to do to play a good game: it is important to win.”

On Theo’s side is your son Francisco…

“We look at the whole team, not just one. Then the individuality in a collective is important and you have to be careful. Francisco is an opponent for now, after the match I will be his father. I want to beat him.”

Giuntoli spoke about Tomori a little while ago…

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