Conceicao: ‘Milan do not need motivation for Champions League’ | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao insists he has no ‘need to motivate the squad’ for tonight’s Champions League clash with Girona, as Milan can lock down a top eight finish.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Sparta Prague-Inter on the Liveblog.

The coach made his debut by winning the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh, but the performances in Serie A were more sluggish, including a 2-0 defeat to Juventus on Saturday.

He had lambasted the squad for lacking motivation, so what has he done to fire them up for this game?

“I did not need to motivate the squad, this is a Champions League fixture and many players would love to be here in this environment,” Conceicao told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“We know this is a strong competition with the best teams in Europe. We are ready. Every element is going to be important today, technical and tactical.”

He went back over that furious rant at the players for lacking motivation and hunger.

“They understand that what I said was not to attack anyone, it was just the sensation that I got. I told them that in the locker room too and they understood it.

“The first step is to accept what we say face to face and understand what is not working at every level. In terms of aggression and duels, they accept that and want to step up. That is an important sign for me.”

Conceicao makes Milan demands

epa11819127 Players of AC Milan huddle around their head coach Sergio Conceicao (unseen) at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio, in Milan, Italy, 11 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

The coach famously said he dislikes pre-match interviews and tries to keep them as brief as possible, especially if they are during the warm-ups.

Conceicao was asked what would make him satisfied at the final whistle against Girona.

“If every player does his job at every level, in terms of strategy and organisation, these are three very important points.”

Alvaro Morata returns after he was suspended for the 2-0 Serie A defeat to Juventus on Saturday, so Milan are back to playing with one centre-forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

“It isn’t important whether there is one or two strikers, what matters is the dynamics of the team.”

Fikayo Tomori sits out a ban, so Strahinja Pavlovic gets his first start since Conceicao took over from Paulo Fonseca on December 30.

Christian Pulisic is only fit for the bench, with Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Malick Thiaw injured.