Sergio Conceição spoke to Sky Sport on the eve of the derby against Inter, following the usual press conference.
His statements:
More smiles: has your confidence improved?
"Yes, definitely. I haven’t been here long, only a month, even though it feels like much more—I’m at Milanello 24/7. We are working to improve in an environment that is not easy. We are at a club where drawing or losing is not an option. Right now, the transfer market is open, and many rumors come from outside, sometimes difficult to control. We are trying to focus on the match; if we win, things will feel lighter."
On his approach...
"I live my profession with passion and an incredible desire to achieve the success that everyone dreams of. I had offers from 13 clubs worldwide, but I chose Milan because you cannot say no to Milan. It’s not about money; it’s about taking a step forward in my career. We have already won a trophy, and all the other competitions are still open. We are here to win them and achieve our objectives. I know it’s not easy—Serie A is very, very difficult, the Champions League features the best teams in the world, and in the Coppa Italia, we will give it our all next week against Roma. I think once the transfer window closes, things will settle down, and we will focus on the last four months."
Where does the Milan derby rank in the world? Conceicao replied:
"It’s one of the most watched and beloved derbies in the world. I have experienced other derbies in Italy and abroad, but this is the one with the strongest global image. I’m very happy to experience my first one here at San Siro with Milan, but it’s also a big responsibility, especially knowing that this is not our best moment. That should give us strength."
What kind of Inter will you face? Are you satisfied with what happened in the transfer market? Conceicao commented:
"They finished fourth in the Champions League, a very strong team with players who know each other extremely well. The coach keeps them in the same system, and they always try to create with mobility. We also know that their two forwards are very important, their midfielders make great runs into the box, and they have width with the full-backs. We are aware of their strength, but we also know we can exploit their weaknesses, even though they are one of the best teams in the world."
