Conceicao expresses positive outlook on Milan’s growth: “Closer to what I want” | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has claimed that his side are getting closer to what he wants to see, as the collective understanding continues to grow.

Milan in truth didn’t even want to be playing tonight against Feyenoord, given that they went into the final round of the league phase in the Champions League inside the top eight places.

That meant that a win against Dinamo Zagreb in the last match would have secured direct qualification for the last 16, but a 2-1 defeat in the Croatian capital saw them drop to 13th.

Now, a tricky two-legged tie against Feyenoord awaits, even if the Dutch club are going through a difficult moment. They are fifth in the league and sacked their head coach earlier in the week.

Conceiçao was interviewed by Sky Italia on the eve of the game against Feyenoord just after his pre-match press conference at De Kuip, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

You said ‘it’s our fault we’re here’…

“It’s the truth. In Zagreb it wasn’t a good match at all. We have to play these two games against Feyenoord, it’s historically difficult against the Dutch sides.

“With one day to work you can’t change much, we are the ones who have to give the answer on where we want to get to. This is what we all have in mind, we have to prove it tomorrow [today] on the pitch.”

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Are you coaching a team that is more aware now?

“There is more time to work, even with those who were already here. We know each other better, they know better what I want. Collectively we are a stronger team, closer to what I want.

“There is still a lot of work to do, new players have arrived, little time to work but we continue to work: with each game that passes we will be stronger in my opinion.”

Gimenez will face his old team tomorrow, have you spoken to him about it?

“I didn’t talk to him about this, I talked about his work on the pitch. On this emotional pitch I will try to tell him that there will be a strong feeling tomorrow, it’s normal.

“Then when the referee blows his whistle he must think about doing his job as best as he can and helping the team, which is the most important thing.”