Conceicao discusses Leao’s condition, Camarda’s future and balancing the Fantastic Four | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao has spoken ahead of AC Milan’s huge Champions League clash against Feyenoord, and he has given some insight into his team selection.

Despite looking up at the top places in the Champions League league phase, Milan found themselves in the playoffs, adding an extra two games to an already heavy schedule. However, the Rossoneri have, arguably, got an easier draw.

Considering the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all find themselves in the playoff system, Feyenoord are certainly one of the best of a bad bunch of options.

Despite this though, Conceicao is likely to attack the game and start his ‘Fantastic Four’ together for the first time from the start in the Netherlands, something which is raising the excitement level of the supporters.

The Portuguese head coach spoke to the press ahead of tomorrow’s clash, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.

After two consecutive benches, what is Leao’s condition? Is he ready to be a starter?

“Rafa is available as in previous matches. It was my choice not to let him play as a starter. When he came on he did well, he did what we wanted. He is available. I’m not saying if he plays as a starter.”

About Camarda…

“Certainly, anyone who is part of the Milan squad is a great player, like everyone in the team. He has many qualities, in terms of character and as a person, he is a very good boy. He has a great desire to learn and grow. Everyone who is at Milan is capable of representing this great club.”

What do you like about Gimenez? Will he start tomorrow?

“Tomorrow is special. It’s special for everyone. Tomorrow we have an important match, it’s our fault we’re here. We want to take on this responsibility. Santi is a player I’ve been following for years. All of us in football evolve day by day: he’s young, he has a long way to go. He’s already a top-level player.”

Can you have a balance on the pitch with four attackers?

“You play with 11 players, the balance is achieved with the whole team. In the meantime, Ibra said that I have two teams, but I have more than two teams with the whole youth sector. We want to do well.

“We work on the balance. It’s not that having many offensive players makes you score more goals and if you have many defenders you don’t concede goals. There are many moments in the game and we need this balance.”

What do you ask of the two central defenders? Do you intend to rotate them often?

“I count on all the players. I have four players who give me a lot of confidence. Any pair that plays gives me a lot of confidence, they have a good character. I want a high defensive line, they know what to do and what we work on to improve.

“The confidence is for all four.”

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Gimenez…

“If he scores it’s thanks to the whole team. Just as if Mike doesn’t concede many goals it’s thanks to the work of the whole team. He has the quality to finish the actions that the team creates. He’s very talented.

“He has to continue working, the team needs him with and without the ball. I’m very happy with him and all the others at the moment.”

Would you like to have an important cycle at Milan like Ancelotti had?

“It’s a question of results. Coaches always have their bags packed, in football, everything changes quickly. The important thing is to look at the present, the future depends on what we do today. I’m not worried about this, even in Porto they told me that maybe I would stay 3-4 months and instead I stayed 7 years.”

Will it be difficult to make the players understand the importance of the challenge given the opponent’s problems?

“That’s exactly right. The change in the technical staff creates different motivations in the group. It’s a Champions League match, historically a difficult match to play in Holland with Feyenoord. I played there three years ago with Porto.

“It’s a difficult, tough, hot environment. We also have our problems, we also have players out. There are 17 outfield players available. We will make the story of the match, the path of the match depends on what we do.

“If we go in with the right attitude and what we have prepared then there is certainly a chance of getting a good result on this.”