Milan coach Sergio Conceiçao affirms belief in top-four finish ahead of Napoli block-buster | OneFootball

As the Rossonerri are set to face Napoli in a high-stakes affair at the Stadio Diego Maradonna in match-week 30 of the Serie A season, Milan boss Sergio Conceiçao provided his insight on the fixture in a pre-match press conference.

As it stands, the Diavolo currently find themselves in ninth-place with a total of 47 points, four points behind of sixth-placed Lazio and nine points adrift from fourth-placed Bologna, whom are currently grasping onto a Champions League qualifying spot ahead of the upcoming campaign.

After having found form with two consecutive come-back victories against Lecce and Como, in which they have demonstrated a great deal of character and discipline, the Milanese side look to carry on their string of good results and seek all three points on the road in what would be a statement win.

While speaking to the press, as relayed by Milan-based journal La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Portuguese tactician provided his perspective on the preparation ahead of the match-up against Italian coach Antonio Conte throughout the international break:

“The ideal situation would have been to stay with the whole group. Those who stayed did a different job compared to other weeks, and it was important. We worked on the team’s principles and on the five moments of play, including dead balls. And we stimulated the sixth element, which is talent”.

I faced Conte many times as a player, this is the first as a coach. Napoli is the mirror of its coach. I like to challenge the best and Napoli is one of the best in Italy. I put passion into it, just like Conte does. I like to live intensely. Do I feel like the Portuguese Conte? No”.

In addition, the former Porto coach spoke about his belief that a top four finish is still attainable despite having dropped so many points in the second half of the season:

“It is possible to get where we want to get, if we didn’t believe in fourth place I wouldn’t be here. What would I be doing here? The atmosphere is good and healthy, there is a great desire to have a season finale worthy of Milan’s history”.

Julian Faustini Ι GIFN