Conceicao: “Comparisons with Conte and Allegri? There are no excuses, results count. Tomori is part of the group”
Sergio Conceicao, AC Milan's newly appointed manager, addressed the media at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on the eve of the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Juventus. The press conference, initially scheduled for 10:30 AM, was delayed to 11:00 AM due to a surprise double training session Conceicao had arranged for his squad, signalling his intent to hit the ground running. The post Conceicao: “Comparisons with Conte and Allegri? There are no excuses, results count. Tomori is part of the group” appeared first on FootItalia.com.
Sergio Conceicao, AC Milan’s newly appointed manager, addressed the media at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on the eve of the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final against Juventus. The press conference, initially scheduled for 10:30 AM, was delayed to 11:00 AM due to a surprise double training session Conceicao had arranged for his squad, signalling his intent to hit the ground running.
Conceicao began by sharing his initial impressions of the team: “I’ve found a squad that is humble, eager to learn, and wants to understand the coach. This is crucial and forms the foundation for quality work in my opinion. We’ve had little time to work, but we’ve been incisive in conveying what’s needed.”
When asked about facing Juventus, Conceicao emphasized the uniqueness of each match: “All games are different, even considering my past as a player. The timing is what it is: if you had asked me if I wanted more time to work with all players available, I would have said yes. But I knew this when I arrived, and there should be no excuses: we must face Juve with our heads held high.”
The Portuguese coach will face an unusual situation, competing against his son Francisco, who plays for Juventus. Conceicao maintained a professional stance: “I’m not emotional at all; I’m a professional. At home, I’m his father, but tomorrow my son will be my opponent. He’ll think the same way; I want to beat him as much as he wants to beat me. I hope not to make him happy.”
Addressing the team’s current situation and their recent struggles, Conceicao stressed the importance of results: “Words mean little; in these big clubs, results are what count in the end, and that’s what we’ll seek to achieve starting tomorrow. We need to change our current moment. It’s not easier or harder based on our opponent; we work the same way regardless of who we face.”
On his son Francisco’s impact at Juventus, Conceicao praised his qualities: “He has the characteristics of a quality player, both technically and in understanding the game and tactics. He has physical qualities and knows how to grow; I’m happy to have coached him. He has a bright future ahead of him.”
When discussing Juventus under coach Thiago Motta, he noted their strengths: “They have many quality players who are young and willing to work hard. They understand their roles well; it’s a team that has conceded the fewest goals in Serie A. We need to see how we can dismantle their defensive organization. I don’t want to stifle talent; we must work compactly as a team because that’s how football works.”
Regarding player availability and squad depth, Conceicao mentioned Tomori: “I haven’t talked about the transfer market; I don’t like discussing individuals. Tomori is part of the group, and that’s what matters most to me right now.”
Looking ahead to the match against Juventus, Conceicao reflected on their previous encounter: “I saw two teams more afraid of losing than wanting to win. However, there are excellent players on both sides. Tomorrow we must have the desire to compete and win while also focusing on our offensive capabilities against quality opponents.”
The post Conceicao: “Comparisons with Conte and Allegri? There are no excuses, results count. Tomori is part of the group” appeared first on FootItalia.com.
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