The AC Milan head coach, Sergio Conceicao, has spoken to the media in a press conference ahead of the match against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Here are his words:
Will we see all four of your attacking stars starting tomorrow night?
"There are more than four (smiles). It’s not like we have a lot of options. We have 15 outfield players plus the youngsters. Because of injuries and players who are not on the squad list, we have this difficulty. Coaches have to find solutions—these four are on the list, and tomorrow we’ll see."
After two consecutive games on the bench, what is Rafael Leao's condition? Is he ready to start?
"Rafa is available, just like in previous matches. It was my decision not to start him. When he came on, he did well, he did what we wanted. He’s available. I’m not saying whether he’ll start."
On Francesco Camarda:
"Anyone who is part of Milan’s squad is a great player, just like everyone else on the team. He has a lot of qualities, both in terms of character and as a person—he’s a really good kid. He’s eager to learn and keeps improving. Everyone at Milan is capable of representing this great club."
What do you like about Santiago Gimenez? Will he start tomorrow?
"Tomorrow is special. It’s special for everyone. We have an important match, and we’re in this situation because of our own mistakes. We take full responsibility. Santi is a player I’ve been following for years. In football, we all evolve day by day—he’s young and has a long way to go. But he’s already a top-level player."
Can you maintain balance on the pitch with four attacking players?
"It’s 11 against 11, and balance is achieved by the whole team. Ibra said I have two teams, but with the entire youth sector, I actually have more than two. We want to do well. Balance is something you work on. It’s not as simple as having more attackers means you score more goals or having more defenders means you concede fewer. There are different moments in the game, and we need that balance."
What do you ask of your two center-backs? Do you plan to rotate them often? Conceicao replied:
"I count on all my players. I have four center-backs who give me a lot of confidence. No matter which pair plays, I trust them—they have great character. I want a high defensive line, and they know what to do. We work on improving, and my trust extends to all four of them."
More on Santiago Gimenez:
"If he scores, it’s thanks to the whole team—just like if Mike concedes few goals, it’s because of the team’s work. He has the quality to finish the chances the team creates. He’s very talented. He needs to keep working hard because the team needs him, both with and without the ball. I’m very happy with him and with everyone else right now."
Would you like to have an important cycle at Milan like Ancelotti did?
"It’s a matter of results. Coaches always have their suitcases ready; in football, everything changes quickly. The important thing is to focus on the present—the future depends on what we do today. I'm not worried about this. Even at Porto, people said I might stay for only 3-4 months, but I ended up staying for seven years."
Will it be difficult to make the players understand the importance of the match given the opponent’s issues? Conceicao answered:
"That’s exactly the case. A change in the coaching staff creates different motivations within the group. It’s a Champions League match, historically a tough game—playing in the Netherlands against Feyenoord is never easy. I played there three years ago with Porto. It’s a difficult, intense, and heated atmosphere. We have our own problems too; we also have players unavailable. We have 17 outfield players available. The story of the match will be written by us—the course of the game depends on what we do. If we enter with the right attitude and execute what we’ve prepared, then we certainly have a good chance of getting a positive result."
