Conceição on Milan’s captain, Leao goal tally and tactical changes | OneFootball

Milan coach Sergio Conceição claimed he is working on ‘small things’ as he wants his players to understand that ‘every detail counts’ ahead of their second clash against Juventus in the space of a few weeks.

The Rossoneri travel to the Allianz Stadium to meet Thiago Motta’s side again after their win in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal, and the Portuguese boss admitted there are still several aspects requiring improvement, such as the team’s ‘mindset’, their ‘organisation’ and ‘balance’.

Yunus Musah of AC Milan holds off Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between AC Milan and Juventus at Al Awwal Park on January 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Conceição set Leao scoring tally and admits Milan ‘not ready’ for two strikers

“There’s balance; they’re two strong teams,” Conceição told reporters in his pre-match press conference when asked about what he expects from Juventus, as quoted by Milannews.

“Both have very interesting players, but every game is different. Tomorrow, we’ll face a team that played very well against Atalanta.

“With the time we have available, we’re working on small things that I consider big things. But time is limited, and we have many important matches ahead.

Until early February, we’ll play in the Champions League, Serie A, and Coppa Italia. We must be ready and have the right attitude to reach our objectives.”

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, gives instructions to Tammy Abraham of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan’s return from Saudi Arabia as Supercoppa Italiana winners was arguably tougher than some expected, as they were required to fight to pick up four points from games against Cagliari and Como, suggesting they still struggle to maintain consistency.

“It’s about offensive and defensive organization,” the former Porto boss explained.

“That’s something we assess daily, and we work on the details. Sometimes we concede goals because of small things.

“We need to enter games with the mindset that every match can be won or lost from the first minute. Historically, Milan have been home to true champions—those who won the club’s seven Champions League titles. Every victory here gives us the belief that we can achieve more.

“We won Serie A three years ago, and recently the Supercoppa, but with all due respect, the Supercoppa is a smaller prize.

“This is a message for everyone working at Milanello, not just the players: every detail counts. That includes me and my staff; we must remain mentally sharp. Other teams prepare well, and matches are challenging. Even Como played well and have a good coach.

“If we want to raise our level, not just in terms of quality, the mental aspect is crucial. Representing Milan means we must be motivated by default.”

Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao seem back to their best form since Conceição’s arrival, although he believes the Portuguese star still has plenty of ‘room for improvement’.

“I believe consistency always ties back to training,” the coach observed.

“They recover the day after a match, have lighter sessions the second day, and by the third, it’s already about preparing for the next game.

“Today, I spoke with Leao—his physical test results are incredible. There’s room for improvement at that level, and I’m working on it.

“Improving his game will undoubtedly boost his stats. I don’t want him to settle for 10 goals; he should aim for 20. He knows what he needs to improve, and we’ve discussed it. It’s a good start for me.”

COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates with his team-mate Francesco Camarda after scoring their team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AC Milan at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on January 14, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

About who should wear the armband after Fonseca’s policy of rotating captaincy: “I saw there’s been some debate about the armband, but to me, it’s not important,” Conceição continued.

“Whether you’re 17 or 35, everyone must take responsibility and have a voice. At Porto, Diogo Costa, the goalkeeper, was captain for years.

“The captain can be Mike, Theo, or Calabria—it doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t worry about it. Mike, for instance, should focus on keeping clean sheets—that’s his primary goal. I like him because of his personality; he’s a winner.

“Theo is the same. He’s surpassed legends like Maldini in goal numbers here at Milan. It’s a pleasure to coach players like them. The armband isn’t something they need to dwell on.”

The Rossoneri will be without injured Christian Pulisic and suspended Alvaro Morata against Juventus, meaning Francesco Camarda could have chances of coming in in the second half: “He’s a young player with a lot of work ahead of him. He has a solid foundation, quality, talent, and drive.”

Finally, Conceição conceded he’d like to use two strikers but doesn’t feel his Milan side is ‘ready’ for such a change: “That’s the issue—the team isn’t ready for it,” he explained.

“It would essentially become a 4-2-4, and we’d be exposed. When I need to take risks to win, I’ll do so because, to me, a draw feels like losing two points.

“Still, balance is vital. I like the system and used it for years, but implementing it requires specific characteristics. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to force it.”