Conceição: “Leão has already realized what needs to be improved”
Milan coach talks about the Portuguese and the transfer market, confirming his absence for the game against Juventus
Striker Christian Pulisic is out of Juventus- Milan . Coach Sérgio Conceição was quite clear on this and other issues, such as the transfer market or how to deal with Rafael Leão .
How is Pulisic? “I can say that Pulisic is out, I don’t want to bluff. It’s nothing special, but we don’t want to risk it. If he plays twenty minutes, he runs the risk of making the situation worse and I don’t want that”, he said. The player left at half-time of the clash with Como, with leg complaints. The tests ruled out any serious muscular physical problem, but the coach prefers to prevent it.
Juve have strengthened, Milan have not yet… «I don’t really like the January transfer window: it’s open for too long and always creates negative emotions in the players. The group has to be balanced. The transfer window is not the most important thing for me today. I’ll speak to the board after the game. You should know that it’s not easy to buy players who can give something more to this group.»
Do you want another defender, a midfielder or a forward? “I want a win tomorrow [Saturday]. I understand your curiosity, but forgive me: I’m thinking about the game.”
Have you found the formula for Théo Hernandez and Rafael Leão to be more consistent? «I think it has to do with training, with the way they work every day. It’s difficult because they recover in the first two days and in the third day we’re already on the eve of the game, so it’s not easy. Today I spoke with Rafael, he has an incredible ability in physical indexes and can do much more with the indications we have. He can definitely improve in terms of numbers too. To be one of the best in Italy and the world, he already knows what needs to improve. He understood what needs to improve and, in my opinion, that’s a good start.”
He handed over the captain’s armband to Maignan , was it a burden for Theo Hernández ? « I saw there was a controversy about the armband. For me, this is not important, because everyone has a responsibility to play well and everyone has to speak up. I chose Mike, it could also be Theo and Calabria. Maignan has to worry about not conceding goals, then the rest. I like him because he’s a winner, but so is Theo. I repeat, for me it’s not that important who wears the armband.”
