Conceicao: ‘I can talk for 2 hours, but if Milan players don’t get it’ | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao reiterates that while Milan showed ‘character’ for their comeback win against Como, he is frustrated. ‘I can talk for two hours, but if they don’t get it into their heads…’

The Rossoneri once again had to complete a comeback under their new coach, just like the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus and Inter, whereas they were held to a 1-1 draw in Serie A by Cagliari.

Como had taken the lead on the hour mark this evening through Assane Diao at the near post, but Theo Hernandez saw his shinned volley loop into the far top corner, then Tammy Abraham sent Rafael Leao through to dink it over the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Conceicao was extremely brief and ill-tempered in the pre-match interview, so has he calmed down a bit?

“I was boiling up on the touchline,” Conceicao told Sky Sport Italia and DAZN.

“I am also not accustomed to doing pre-match interviews, I don’t even speak to my family for 2-3 hours before a match, let alone the media, but there are rules and I must get used to it.

“It was a lot of suffering, because we were up against a good team with fine players and they are well-drilled.

“We prepare for games with video lessons and whiteboards, but don’t get time to work in training on the pitch and we are missing a lot of things. We need to be far more present with attacking and defending duels.

“In any case, we always see a good reaction and it is easier to work when we have positive results to build on. There is a lot that needs to be improved, we cannot always allow 5-6 scoring opportunities.”

Milan must change for Conceicao

COMO, ITALY – JANUARY 14: Rafael Leao of AC Milan competes for the ball with Yannik Engelhardt of Como 1907 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)

Conceicao said the first half against Cagliari was the worst in his 13 years of management, so did he see any improvement in Como?

“We are playing against quality opponents and are going to struggle if we don’t do what we prepared. It went better after the break, especially after we conceded the goal. We’ve got to be more solid as a unit, we cannot allow the opponents to keep passing it around us so easily.

“I tell the lads, the foundations of football are solidity. If you do not concede, then with the quality at our disposal, we will score eventually. In four games, we have completed a comeback three times to win, so that means there is character. We can improve physically, tactically, technically and in terms of attitude.

“I can talk for two hours, but if they don’t get it into their heads, then it becomes difficult,” continued Conceicao.

“We need more pressing, more intensity, a lot of work to be done. We have clear ideas, but the players were not accustomed to a certain type of work. They think that if they press high, then they end up running more. That is not true, you run less.

“This is my whole philosophy of football. Naturally, we also have a lot of players who do not have these characteristics, so we are trying to change them. We have everything to gain.”

Ismael Bennacer had his second start under Conceicao, but in both situations he was substituted at half-time, so does he not quite fit in that midfield with Youssouf Fofana?

“Isma went off because he was on a yellow card and it was risky in midfield, but it is also true that he and Fofana need to improve the way they occupy the space with and without the ball.”

There was bad news too for Milan, because Christian Pulisic and Malick Thiaw both went off with muscular issues, while Alvaro Morata was booked and will therefore be suspended for Saturday’s Serie A showdown with Juventus.

“Morata also had a muscular problem and we preferred not to risk it. We’re checking the work that was done before we got here, we need to improve in our fitness levels too, because we need intensity for my football and at this moment we are missing something,” concluded Conceicao.