Arrigo Sacchi, to the pages of Gazzetta dello Sport, commented on the Supercoppa Italiana final between Inter and Milan, which the Rossoneri won 3-2. Here is an excerpt from his words:
"First thing: it was a beautiful game, played at Premier League rhythms. A great advertisement for Italian football. Second thing: Milan is alive, as demonstrated in the semifinal against Juve and then against Inter. Third thing: Conceicao is a great coach. An international match, of the highest level."
On the match and Rafael Leao, Sacchi offered this comment:
"Yes, the victory is deserved. The match was balanced, but the Rossoneri added that little bit of aggression. The key? Leao's entry. The Portuguese player did impressive things, he literally turned the game around. And watching him in these conditions makes me even angrier, to tell the truth. He has incredible qualities, both physical and technical, yet he doesn't always manage to express them. I hope he finds the consistency necessary to reach the highest levels. I believe he needs to be constantly stimulated, both in training and in games. Probably his temperament doesn't help, maybe he's not a lion, but he has exceptional qualities: in speed, and with the ball at his feet, no one can stop him."
On Sérgio Conceicao, Sacchi said:
"Twice Milan went behind and twice they found the moral strength and physical energy to turn the game around. If you don’t have character, you can’t pull off such feats. This means that the coach, just arrived, has been able to touch the right cords. I’ll be clear: Conceicao has shown that he’s a great coach. In these two matches, anyone who understands football has noticed his competence in tactics and strategy: Sergio has strong, clear ideas. And with the substitutions, all offensive, he gave courage to the entire team. Conceicao arrived knowing what the problems were, and in a few days he worked on these aspects to try to improve them. I had been positively impressed by his Porto, and now I find confirmation. Milan has become a team that fights, that doesn’t give an inch, that presses, that wants to get to the ball quickly."
Sacchi on the turning point:
"I believe this victory, which probably no one expected, can give a great boost to the whole environment. Conceicao is good and knows very well that his work is just beginning: the defensive phase, for example, absolutely needs to be improved because the second goal from Inter should not have been conceded... But now there are the conditions to do well: in Italy, the goal must be to enter the Champions League zone. If Milan plays like this, they can make it. And if Leao continues to play at this level, then even in Europe, it will be fun."
