Conceicao on Coppa Italia and Inter match-up: ‘I’m not the happiest in the world’ | OneFootball

Milan coach Sergio Conceicao admits that he is ‘not the happiest in the world’ after Milan’s 2-1 loss against Napoli in Serie A on Sunday, which keeps the Rossoneri in ninth place, but has given his assessment and an update on team news ahead of the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against rivals Inter on Wednesday night.

Milan are unbeaten against Inter over their three meetings this season. The Rossoneri won their first Serie A match against the Nerazzurri, and the Supercoppa Italiana final in Riyadh. The most recent meeting in San Siro resulted in a 1-1 Serie A draw.

“They’ve been important games for us. The situations are different, with different players on the pitch. We’ll see if we can have a good game tomorrow, let’s see what Inter can do,” Conceicao said during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“They are a very strong team with a solid game and a coach who has been there for a long time. But we want to win.”

epa11949864 AC Milan coach Sergio Conceicao during the Italian Serie A soccer match US Lecce – AC Milan at the Via del Mare stadium in Lecce, Italy, 8 March 2025. EPA-EFE/ABBONDANZA SCURO LEZZI

Conceicao revealed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be back with the group in the near future after being taken to hospital with appendicitis over the weekend, but otherwise, the Milan camp is in relatively good shape.

“The group is fine, Loftus-Cheek will return to Milan today. Everyone else is available. We still have a training session tomorrow. We did a bit of differentiated work for those who played a lot against Napoli, then a bit of tactical work today and tomorrow, with less intensity.

“It’s up to me to decide we want to put out a string XI and for those who are on the bench to come on and do well. If I could play with 26 starters, I would, but that’s not possible.”

Conceicao: Coppa Italia is Milan’s ‘quickest way into Europe’

With Milan currently sat in ninth place in the Serie A table, they might need to win the Coppa Italia to secure qualification to UEFA competition next season.

JUNE 16: The trophy at the Olympic stadium prior the Coppa Italia Final match between Juventus and SSC Napoli at Olimpico Stadium on June 16, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

“We’re aware that it’s important for Europe. But let’s not think about the other games. We know that this is the quickest way into Europe,” Conceicao said on the matter.

Conceicao was also asked if he had any advice for Santiago Gimenez, who has now gone five games without a goal for the Rossoneri.

“He scored a lot in training today. There are expectations about him, but arriving in Italy and making an immediate impact takes a bit of adapting, that’s completely normal. We want Santiago Gimenez who arrived and scored four or five goals. A bit of a drop after that is normal. The biggest help I can give him is to leave him be in his own space.”

epa12000154 Milan�s forward Santiago Gimenez reacts after missing to score from the penalty spot during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs AC Milan at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 30 March 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

Conceicao was also asked if he had any advice for Joao Felix, who has also been in and out of form since joining Milan in January. He was also asked whether he had seen the clip of the Chelsea loanee’s half-time talk with Kyle Walker.

“The same thing as Santiago. I don’t know about the talk with Walker, but it’s a normal thing between players,” Conceicao said.

Asked how Milan’s season has gone since he came in, Conceicao replied: “They are all different games. Milan aren’t used to this ranking, but there are still a lot of games to go.”

Asked how much a trophy from the Coppa Italia would mean, Conceicao replied: “I don’t know. A trophy will definitely be satisfying, but we have to beat Inter first and then win in the final. That is ‘futurology’. I like to win day by day.

“I’m not the happiest in the world because of the things I’ve experienced over these last months. I’ve been happy in some moments, disappointed in many more. We need to improve, but it’s not easy for everyone.”

Conceicao on dropping Leao: ‘Needs to find the consistency’

Conceicao was also asked what he makes of Rafael Leao, who was left on the bench for the first half of Milan’s 2-1 loss against Napoli in Serie A on Sunday.

epa12000105 Milan�s forward Rafael Leao (R) in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match SSC Napoli vs AC Milan at Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, 30 March 2025. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO

“What I said in Riyadh about him being among the strongest in the world, I believe in. But there needs to be some evolution.

“It’s always spoken about whether he starts or comes on from the bench, but it’s always easy to talk afterwards. I’m puzzled by football people who say things after the game. Leao is one of the best in the world, but he needs to find the consistency to finish the season with 20 goals, 15 assists.”