Conceição: “Winning the Champions League? We Can’t Look Too Far Ahead.”
AC Milan are set to face Dinamo Zagreb in a pivotal Champions League match on Wednesday at the Maksimir Stadium. As the Rossoneri aim to secure their place in the top four of the group, manager Sérgio Conceição shared his thoughts on the upcoming fixture and the team's ambitions.
AC Milan are set to face Dinamo Zagreb in a pivotal Champions League match on Wednesday at the Maksimir Stadium. As the Rossoneri aim to secure their place in the top four of the group, manager Sérgio Conceição shared his thoughts on the upcoming fixture and the team’s ambitions.
Conceição emphasized the importance of focus, stating, “We are concentrated on preparing for this match with limited time. We’ll think about the derby the day after tomorrow, not before.” When questioned about Milan’s potential to win the Champions League, the manager remained grounded: “We have a clear objective: to finish in the top four. We can’t look too far ahead because we risk falling.”
Addressing the recent incident with Calabria during the Parma match, Conceição dismissed the need for external motivation: “We don’t need uninteresting things to give us a boost. The boost comes from work and the desire to play in this beautiful competition. We want to conclude this phase in the best possible way.”
The Portuguese coach also reflected on areas for improvement: “I’d like to improve several things. There are moments when we have the ball and create important opportunities, but we need to find more balance on the field. Coaches always seek perfection, but it’s not always achievable.”
Conceição highlighted the challenges of a tight schedule: “Looking at the calendar, there’s no time. This isn’t an excuse, but a fact. Not everyone sees certain things. It may seem that we haven’t improved in some areas, but that’s not the case.”
On team dynamics, the manager expressed satisfaction: “Every day that passes, I know the players better. Here I see a very good group humanly. These players understand my thoughts on football and our sporting life. I have a lot of confidence in them.”
Christian Pulisic, who joined Conceição at the press conference, offered his perspective on the team’s performance: “I don’t know why we win more in Champions League than in the league,” he said with a smile. “We need to do well and move forward. What’s missing at Milan? I wouldn’t know.”
Regarding the recent coaching change, Pulisic noted: “It’s not easy because we don’t have time to think about it since we play every three days. The spirit has certainly changed; we have this mentality that the game is never over.”
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