Vladimir Weiss, coach of Slovan Bratislava, speaks at a press conference from the 'National Stadium' in Bratislava ahead of the Champions League group stage match against AC Milan.
On former Rossoneri player Juraj Kucka returning to the squad, he said:
"I was happy that he would recover quickly."
Tomorrow’s match brings back memories of 1992: what were you doing then? Was it a turning point in your career?
"Manchester City came here then, and now it’s Milan. The fans see tomorrow as the match. Football has developed so much since 1992. But football isn’t a science; maybe tomorrow we’ll play well. Twelve years ago, we knocked out Roma, and in 2010 Slovakia beat Italy. Maybe we can do even better tomorrow. We are stronger than in the earlier Champions League matches, and key players have returned to the squad. Fonseca came here a year ago with Lille and is bringing his philosophy to Milan, with many vertical plays and sprinters like Leão, Pulisic, and Abraham. We know what to prepare for and are looking forward to it."
What weapons does Slovan have to hurt Milan?
"What do you think? I watched the match against Juve. They’re two very tactical teams, and it was a match without many chances. We need to try something while they attack. We must not be afraid, we must not lose the ball quickly, but every team has its weaknesses, including Milan. They beat Real but then doesn’t beat Cagliari. Serie A has improved a lot; it’s among the top three leagues in the world. We mustn’t give chances to Pulisic, Leão, Abraham, or Loftus-Cheek—all the players in their lineup are great players," as relayed via Milannews.it.
What are your thoughts on tomorrow’s match?
"For us, it’s an honour to play against the Rossoneri and an honour to compete in the Champions League. We have no chance to progress, but we’re playing against very strong teams. I used to say City was the strongest team, but that’s no longer the case. Fonseca's team beat Real, and that’s no easy feat."
Is tomorrow your final? The Slovan Bratislava coach, Weiss, replied:
"For us, every Champions League match is a final. I’m very happy we’ll be playing against Milan tomorrow. They are one of the giants of football."
He added:
"The match against Juve was too tactical; there was too much respect, and for the fans, it was a bit boring. But not conceding is also a strategy. If I could choose, I’d take out Pulisic."
What Milan are you expecting?
"They will play to win. I expect an offensive lineup with all their best players because they must win tomorrow to advance. There’s the Milan that wins derbies and beats Real, but there’s also a Milan that doesn’t defeat smaller teams. Fonseca is a very good coach, but players need time to adapt to his style of play."
