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Milan coach, Sergio Conceicao, spoke at a press conference after the defeat in the big match against Thiago Motta’s Juventus.

Conceicao’s first defeat on the Milan bench. The goals from Mbangula and Weah condemned the Rossoneri. The Portuguese coach, after the match, spoke at a press conference to comment on his team’s defeat.

Milan, Conceicao’s words

Does it also depend on having few replacements in certain roles and fatigue? A lack of reaction…

“In the first half, it was a balanced game, we had more chances. Then in the second half, Juventus had more desire to win, more hunger. We could have conceded another goal early in the second half because we want to play out from the back under pressure from the opponent: these are things I don’t understand. But I am responsible, the coach. The first step to winning a game is wanting to win.”

So, Milan didn’t want to win?

“That’s what I’m saying. But what tiredness, what fuel, come on. The players have everything to recover from previous matches, we must have an empty fridge at home to have more hunger.”

How concerned, or motivated, are you by the characteristic of this team that struggles to find that extra something?

“Exactly. I have had small teams when I started coaching 13 years ago, I had teams that weren’t technically great but had incredible hunger and desire. In life, it’s like that, we must have goals to grow. Once we get to Milan, we must want even more because we must continue with success, hunger, desire with personal goals to reach the end of our careers and be proud of what we’ve done.

What I see is not new, I felt it before because I practically watched all of Milan’s games. It’s me who has to change the attitude and mentality of the players. I am responsible, I am the coach, and I take responsibility for this defeat because I wasn’t good at halftime with this drop in the second half. Okay, if we miss goals and the opponent was good, that’s fine. But when we lack other things, it’s difficult for me, it’s me as a coach who has to change the situation.”

In times of difficulty, with many absences, shouldn’t the most representative players like Theo and Leao give something extra?

“Yes, but I don’t think we can always rely on the most experienced players. The others have their responsibilities, we can’t just put all the weight on Theo, Leao, and Mike, it’s not fair. There are others too, and they can’t hide. It’s football, it’s life. I played for 25 years and I know how it is, that in these difficult moments, those with more experience and maturity step up. But no one should hide.

We must look each other in the eye and see how we can do more, me first, and how to change this situation. It’s not a situation where we are a team that is not technically at the level of the other top teams in Italy, or it’s not that we can’t reach an important moment physically with everyone at their best, organizationally we can’t reach high levels. Then there’s another part that, for me, is the most important thing. If you don’t have the foundation, the desire, the hunger, the desire to win the game and every duel, as if every duel were decisive: that’s missing here. And as a coach, I take this responsibility to change this situation.”

About the transfer market?

“We are talking to the club. If you saw Juventus’ substitutions, they are different from our boys. They also came in well, but I don’t want to make excuses. It’s not a lack of fuel because it’s January and we have to play. I don’t find excuses in the transfer market. Obviously, I would like something more, and we are talking about it in January.”