In the wake of AC Milan’s thrilling Supercoppa Italiana victory over Inter, new manager Sergio Conceição shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and future aspirations. The Portuguese tactician, who has only been at the helm for a short time, has already made a significant impact, guiding the Rossoneri to triumph in one of Italy’s most prestigious competitions.
Conceição expressed his delight with the players’ performance, acknowledging the challenging circumstances surrounding the team. “I’m very happy for the players. It wasn’t easy, and the environment wasn’t at its best. We had few days to work on important details for me, and we faced two top-level teams,” he stated.
The manager emphasized the need for continuous improvement, despite the victory. “There were errors, and there’s a lot of work ahead of us. We have the Champions League, and we must finish in the top four, where Milan should be. We’ve celebrated, but from tomorrow, it’s back to work.”
Conceição’s halftime talk proved crucial in turning the tide of the match. He revealed, “Two or three things at the defensive level, and we also needed to improve offensively. We conceded from a throw-in, and in the second half, the 2-0 came after a poor read. The team has character and managed to win against two great teams in the end.”
The Portuguese coach stressed the importance of compactness and courage in his tactical approach. “If we want to be compact, all departments are important, and there needs to be little distance between them. I know our defenders and midfielders can do better and must have courage. If Milan wants to be great again, it must have hunger and courage.”
Perhaps most intriguingly, Conceição shared his thoughts on star player Rafael Leão. “Leão is a phenomenon. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s a relaxed Portuguese, while I’m more tense. He needs to learn two or three things, but he can be the best in the world. He has everything; he just needs to understand a couple of things he must do on the field. If he puts his immense quality at the service of the team, he can become truly strong.”
