Along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the presser (read the Swede's statements HERE), there were also statements, of course, from the new coach, Sergio Conceicao.
Here's what he said to the media in today's press conference:
How important is your pride, and how important will San Siro and its fans be?
"I'm proud. It's a pleasure for me to come and work at such an important club. For me, it's a pleasure, a source of pride, and a step forward in my career and that of my staff. The fans are the soul of the club. Without them, it's difficult to live and grow, and we must respect these values, work in this spirit, and prove ourselves worthy of Milan. If I'm here, it's not a good sign; it means something hasn't gone well. There's not much time to prepare for the match against Juventus. We won't complain or make excuses."
What are the key ideas you will work on? Have you already spoken to your son, Francisco (who plays for Juventus)? Conceicao said
"I have five children, and I speak to all of them every day. Francisco, professionally, will be an opponent; at home, he's my son. We can change systems, but what matters is the spirit and the mentality of quality, and that is non-negotiable. This hunger to finish the match knowing we've given everything to win isn't easy to achieve. I experience the match intensely, and I want my players to do the same, just like the fans. This is the path we need to follow. Their eyes must light up when they step into Milanello."
Is it more of a mental or tactical issue?
"It's not just one problem; there are many things that aren't working. Some prefer to talk about tactics, others about physical issues, and others about mental ones. Paulo [Fonseca] had some great periods here and others not so great, but this is part of a coach's job. We always strive for perfection, but it's impossible. We play against quality opponents, both in Italy and in the Champions League, but we are prepared for this. However, I don't want to go into the details."
What is the difference between Conceição as a player and Conceição as a coach?
"Everything is different. When we're players, we think we understand everything about football, but it's not true. We only think about our own space. A coach doesn't even sleep; for me, last night was difficult. There's the stress of wanting to understand everything here, the people, because everyone is important, from the kit manager to our president. My staff and I are eager to accelerate the learning curve and get to know everything and everyone quickly, because time is short, and we want to be present and active."
Conceição added:
"My situation with Porto wasn't an easy exit. For me, timing isn't important. Over the summer, there was interest from a club every week. People talk; it's normal because news comes out that we can't control. For me, Milan's timing wasn't the issue. It all happened very quickly. Why did I come to Milan? I'm coaching one of the best teams in the world. I couldn't say no, even though I had other opportunities that I greatly respect."
How will your approach with the players be?
"It depends on the situation. It’s not like I need to change now; I’m 50 years old. Changing now is difficult. I’ve been a coach for 13 years; I didn’t just start yesterday. They know they have someone direct in front of them. There will always be 11 happier players, and those on the bench a little less so. But this is part of managing the group: direct communication and maximum effort in training. They might feel a bit down because they’re not playing, but that should give them strength, just like pressure, which is part of being in big clubs. We’re confident we can do a good job, but words are just words—results are what matter."
What do you think about changing? Conceição replied:
"I stick to my beliefs about the team’s organization and tactics. For me, football is simple: there’s one goal where you score and another where you don’t concede. Dominating football, for me, is that. Tiki-taka? For me, it’s about putting the ball in the net."
Can this team qualify for the Champions League?
"We’ll do everything we can to get there. There’s a lot of work to be done. There are players right now who can’t play, key players for these first six months, but we have to work with those we have available. I have confidence in all of them. With those who are ready, we’ll fight to win every game, starting with the next one. Of course, it’s better to have everyone available, but injuries are part of football."
Do you confirm the idea that, in your view, all players are equal? Have you already spoken to Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao?
"For me, they’re equal in how I manage the locker room. I don’t differentiate whether they’re 17 or 37; it depends on what they do in training. If they train at their maximum—not just their current level, but pushing to another limit—then there’s truly no difference. In the locker room, they know the approach is the same for everyone. After that, there are personal conversations. I like to understand the whole story of the players I work with. I look into whether they have a father, a mother, and the backstory behind their behaviors within the team."
What kind of coach will you be?
"Everyone has their job to do. I like to get involved in every apartment, but that is my job. I will speak with the management when I need to, they can come whenever they want, every day, because we all want to row in the same direction. We want one thing: for Milan to reach the Champions League. There is a title to play for, while in the Champions League, there are two important matches against Girona and Dinamo Zagreb."
Conceição on the winter transfer market:
"The first thing I said is that I want to get to know the First Team and Milan Futuro well. It's not right because I don't know the others well enough, then we will talk about it and see if we can adjust anything."
Analogies, differences, and difficulties you expect to encounter here compared to your previous experience at Nantes:
"These are different situations. The timing is the same, it's true, it was a great job there in France, where the squad was different, the environment was different, everything. It's true the situation is similar but it's not the same, because the pressure is different. This pressure, this environment, should give us extra motivation, not the opposite. We must take this on with responsibility, work to the fullest, be humble, knowing we have a tough job ahead, but very confident for what's to come."
