Sergio Conceição made it a matter of mentality: if Milan didn’t win against Juventus, it’s because they had less determination to do so compared to their opponents.
This raises the question: can a winning spirit be trained as if it were a tactical plan? And if so, how?
One idea could be to bring in hungry players who are used to competing at the top, so they can act as leaders and show the path to success, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's edition. This is also the rationale behind the Walker deal, which is now in its final stages.
The 34-year-old's move could be completed within 48 hours, that is, between today and tomorrow.
There is no rush, however, for the Champions League match against Girona at San Siro on Wednesday: Walker will only be eligible for the tournament’s second phase (with a substitution in the UEFA list), not the last two group matches.
What are the terms of the Kyle Walker transfer to Milan?
First, the details of the agreement: Milan and Manchester City need to formalise the deal already reached, based on a loan with an option to buy in the summer.
For the player, a two-and-a-half-year contract worth a total of 9 million euros, essentially the salary he would have earned in Manchester through 2026 spread over 30 months of work. After a career rich in victories, at 34 years old, Walker is looking for a new challenge. This comes with Guardiola’s blessing, who didn’t even include him on the bench yesterday:
"Did Ibra say he’s on the market and there’s interest? If Ibra said it, then Ibra said it… Kyle can play anywhere, absolutely anywhere.”
Walker had numerous other offers, but he chose the Rossoneri.
He wants another major club where he can further enrich his trophy collection, and Conceição approves.
On the pitch, he could be useful in a dual role: as a right-back, where Emerson Royal has yet to establish himself, Calabria has fallen behind in the hierarchy, and Jimenez is lively but still inexperienced.
Alternatively, as a central defender: here, the starting pair is currently Thiaw and Tomori, with Gabbia as the first backup. A sale, if not Tomori, perhaps Pavlovic, could make Walker’s addition even more useful, concludes Gazzetta.
