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00:00Good afternoon, welcome along to this pre-match press conference ahead of Milan-Liverpool
00:07with Paolo Fonseca and Alvaro Morata.
00:10We'll start with Milan TV, thanks Nicola.
00:13Question for both, to the gaffer.
00:19There's a lot of history that goes along with great nights at San Siro.
00:24There's huge support for the club on domestic occasions, but even more so in Europe.
00:32As a footballing man, do you think this could have an impact, the fiery support that we'll
00:38get tomorrow night?
00:39Yes, I believe so.
00:46Our fans' support is always very important, just as it has been when we came to the stadium
00:57ahead of the Venezia game, during the match and after the game as well.
01:01It's crucial for us to have our fans' support.
01:04I think the same goes for tomorrow, and I think it will be the same tomorrow.
01:10We need to feel the love of our fans.
01:13Alvaro, there will be some Milan fans that will think before you go out there tomorrow
01:22night that your comeback started ten days ago, in that rainy morning during the international
01:30break when you started to run and you started to give positive vibes to the fan base.
01:35Did the build-up to that game start on that morning, Alvaro?
01:42Ever since I signed for Milan, I imagined playing for the Rossoneri against Liverpool,
01:49but I didn't imagine that it would be the first game in the Champions League, because
01:53if you look over the course of history, it could easily be a semi-final or a final, just
01:58as it has been in the past.
02:01So hugely excited, and can't wait to work hard and to make the fan base proud, as the
02:08gaffer has said.
02:12That's the absolute utmost.
02:14When we hear the Champions League anthem at San Siro tomorrow up against Liverpool, these
02:18are big occasions.
02:20These go down in history, it's part of footballing history, and we can't wait to get out there
02:24tomorrow night.
02:27I've also got a question for the gaffer and one for Alvaro.
02:30The first is, I'd like to ask you whether the win over Venezia has given you a boost
02:38in confidence, and could this be the start of something big for Milan?
02:44It's not only the feel-good factor, but could it be a turning point for you, that result?
02:50And Alvaro, what's the difference?
02:52You've scored 28 goals in the Champions League, you know the tournament very well, what's
02:56the main difference that you need in Champions League matches such as these, in order to
03:00win them?
03:03I think victories always breed confidence to the players, the team and the fan base.
03:10But I think it will be a different match.
03:15What matters is that we beat Venezia.
03:24I think we saw some positive signs before the Venezia game, that the team is improving
03:30and learning new things, but of course victories do bring confidence, mainly to the players
03:35themselves.
03:36Ultimately, the Champions League is the Champions League, it's unique, it doesn't matter how
03:44you go into it.
03:45Of course, we do need a win to try and see things differently.
03:51We have seen some positives, but ultimately what matters are results.
03:59That's our current league hall in terms of points, and thankfully it's still the start.
04:10And the Champions League doesn't matter how you go into it, the Champions League is the
04:14Champions League, they're the best teams in Europe there.
04:19And what more can I say?
04:22When you train with the Champions League ball, you're immediately aware of the importance
04:26and the history of this competition, and we're hugely motivated for tomorrow's game.
04:32A question for both.
04:37To the gaffer, I wanted to ask, of course you will have studied Liverpool, what are
04:42the strengths of this side, and above all, what are the mistakes that you've made at
04:47the start of this season that you need to really avoid repeating against the Reds?
04:53Alvaro, you've got a positive record on a personal level against Liverpool.
05:00I saw that you also scored quite a significant goal against Liverpool.
05:05Could you talk us through that particular match, your memories of that and your experience
05:10against the Reds in general?
05:15Liverpool are a top-class side, and in my opinion, they're one of the best teams in
05:20Europe at this moment in time.
05:25They've got a very good positional game, and they've got a lot of quality that we're all
05:30very familiar with.
05:37I think we need to be perfect defensively as a team in order to win this match.
05:47In the Champions League, when you're up against opposition of this ilk, we know that we can't
05:53afford to make any mistakes.
05:55If we do make an error, then they'll score.
06:02That's why I think we need to be a complete team defensively in order to have the opportunity
06:08to then attack with stability and balance.
06:14But if I'm quite honest, they're one of the best teams in Europe at this moment in time.
06:18Yes, it's great memories of that goal against Liverpool, but that's now part of the past.
06:27We've got some fresh challenges to face, and we'll start tomorrow.
06:34You need to dream big, because we wear the Milan colours, and when you look on the back
06:43of your shirt, you see the number seven, and that's a huge responsibility, and the fans
06:49want to see us compete and battle.
06:52There's a lot to improve, but we still have a lot of quality on this side, and we can
06:55beat anyone.
06:56Hi, Paolo.
06:57I wanted to ask you whether you agree that tomorrow night's game will be able to tell
07:09us just what a good side your Milan team are or not.
07:14I see tomorrow's match as an opportunity for us, a chance for the team to show that we're
07:21learning, that we're improving.
07:26It's a big opportunity, if you ask me, to play against a top team like Liverpool.
07:36It will offer new challenges compared with what we face in Serie A, but it also gives
07:42us the opportunity to show our worth, to show the players' worth, and to demonstrate how
07:48the team are getting better day in, day out.
07:52For Alvaro, I wanted to ask you, you finished last season with the Euro 2024 against an
08:09English side, winning with Spain, and you're playing English side tomorrow.
08:12I just hope the outcome's the same, that's all I can say.
08:16These are rather random coincidences, if you will, but it's good news too, because
08:21it shows that you're really at the peak of the game.
08:23If you're playing the final game of a European season, a Euro final, and match day one in
08:29the Champions League against Liverpool for Milan, then that shows you really are at the
08:34top of the game.
08:38That's what tomorrow's match is all about for us.
08:40It's a huge challenge for us.
08:47I don't think it's a case of seeing our worth.
08:51It's our first game in the Champions League.
08:53There are a number of new faces, a number of changes.
08:57Ultimately, we need to really get to grips with the mechanism of our side.
09:03It will take time.
09:04We've got no more time to waste, above all domestically, and it is a different kettle
09:08of fish tomorrow night, because it's the Champions League.
09:12Question for the gaffer.
09:13I wanted to ask you whether, in recent days, after the Venezia game in specific, whether
09:20you've been able to speak to Geri Cardinale, and if so, what you said to one another.
09:26I speak to Geri all the time.
09:31After matches, before games, we're constantly in contact.
09:35That's only natural.
09:37As for what we said to one another, that remains between us.
09:48Good afternoon, gaffer.
09:49I wanted to ask you, I have seen that Ibrahimovic is back, and he also watched the training
09:59session today.
10:02Has he said anything in particular to you about the Venezia game?
10:08What he liked, what, in his opinion, you can improve upon at the start of this league season?
10:13And I also wanted to ask Alvaro Morata what he believes the difference is at this moment
10:21in time between Italian football and English football.
10:25In terms of what I said to Zlatan, it's what we typically talk about.
10:36The matches, the atmosphere, the players.
10:39I don't think there's anything new to say.
10:42These are normal conversations about the team, about the players, about matches.
10:49Nothing new.
10:50I think the biggest difference between the Premier League and Serie A is the physicality,
10:58the physical side of the game.
11:01A number of years ago, everyone said that the best league to watch was very spectacular,
11:09was the Premier League.
11:11But in recent years, I think none of you were used to three or four draws in Serie A many
11:18years ago.
11:19So Serie A and the Italian game has changed a great deal.
11:22It's a lot more attractive.
11:23There are a number of teams that are playing at a very high level.
11:29And I think on that score, it's very similar to the Premier League, but Serie A is more
11:34entertaining.
11:37A question for Alvaro.
11:38Hi, Alvaro.
11:40You have played in this competition.
11:42You've starred in it with a number of different clubs.
11:45You now start a new phase of the Champions League.
11:48What's your opinion on this Milan side?
11:50Above all, how European is this team in terms of its skill set and makeup?
11:58I often speak to my teammates, and ultimately we still need to understand that amongst ourselves.
12:08I've had the fortune of playing for lots of different teams, but on very few occasions
12:14have I seen so much quality as we have here.
12:16But occasionally, quality on its own isn't enough.
12:19You need to understand and above all, you need to believe that you can do it.
12:23We've said that up until now, but over the last few weeks, you see that if you're on
12:30the training ground, that yes, we can beat any team.
12:34Prior to that, I don't know how to explain it in Italian, but it depended really on what
12:40we conceded.
12:41If we conceded a goal, then that would have an impact on how we approach things.
12:46But we need to have our ideas, clear ideas, and that's what we're starting to do.
12:54Maybe the gaffer thinks differently.
12:56This is my personal opinion, or maybe you guys in the media have a different view on
12:59that.
13:00But it was no coincidence that we beat Venezia, because it was Venezia, it was the way that
13:05we worked in training over the course of the week, and the way we actually started to grasp
13:10amongst ourselves that we ultimately depend on the colleague we have alongside us, and
13:14we need to raise the bar.
13:15There's no issue on that score.
13:17And above all, we need to show belief, because if we don't believe ourselves, then people
13:23watching us won't do either.
13:26A question for Alvaro Morata from the Hungarian RTL Television.
13:30How are your feelings about coming back to Italy?
13:33How do you like the town and your teammates, your team?
13:37In English, no?
13:39Hello.
13:40It's a pleasure to come back to Italy to play.
13:43I'm really happy, really proud.
13:45And I think we didn't show yet how strong we are as a team and as an individuality.
13:56We didn't have the chance to show our individual qualities.
14:00In fact, there are a lot of great players who have played with other big clubs in Europe,
14:07like Loftus-Cheek, Té-Hernández.
14:10They all have a great career behind them.
14:13And now the time has come for all of us to understand that we are great players.
14:18We're not just writing projects to grow.
14:21We're ready to win.
14:23We're ready to show our talent.
14:25We're ready to show that we're top players.
14:29Hi, Gaffer.
14:32Can you pick the same side against Liverpool and Inter, or in your mind, do you have an
14:38idea of rotating a bit, because it's the start of the season, they've come back from the
14:42international break, and then maybe some players can only play one of the two games?
14:47No, the same players can play in both matches, but I might also decide to tweak things.
14:55What I mean by that is we have three games in the space of a week, and I need to think
15:04about all three matches.
15:06I don't want to say any more than that, but I also need to consider the fact that tomorrow
15:14night's game is the most important one because it's our next match, but I can't lose sight
15:19of the fact that we have the derby on the horizon, and that's our next Serie A match.
15:35Hi, a question for Alvaro.
15:37You're an experienced player.
15:39After the Torino match, you said to this team that they needed to change attitude and mentality,
15:45they needed to start grafting.
15:47Over the last few days and weeks, have you noticed a change in terms of attitude from
15:52your teammates?
15:56The truth is it's not a change of attitude that I wanted to say.
15:59I didn't want to criticise my teammates.
16:02Ultimately, you play on Sundays as you live your life, how you train here, how you eat
16:08here, how you travel to away games.
16:14That's what we need to understand.
16:16We're here to win.
16:18We've not come here, me or any of the other guys, have come here just to have a stroll
16:23in the park or to do business.
16:25We've come here because Milan want to win and Milan have to win, and that's why I say
16:30that there has been a change over the last few weeks.
16:34It's not the same whether you lose a training game or not.
16:37You need to win everything.
16:38You need to win as much as possible, and when you start to see things like that, that's
16:41what I meant by that with the game the other day.
16:46In the second half, it's a bit more relaxed, but we also needed to manage our energy levels
16:52because we had two important games coming up this week.
16:56But I wasn't criticising anyone after the Torino game.
17:00It was simply a case of all of us need to be aware of the fact that we're here to win,
17:04not simply to kill time or whatever.
17:09Good evening, Alvaro.
17:10Good evening to the gaffer.
17:12Question for Paolo Fonseca.
17:14There's a word that often came up in your press conferences in the past, which is dominating
17:20proceedings, but I heard your answer earlier on.
17:24You said we need to actually think about defending before then attacking.
17:27Well, are you changing rather than dominating?
17:30Are you looking for more balance, or is it simply a case of the importance of the match
17:34and the opposition?
17:37They know that the first thing that I say to my players is the best way to defend is
17:44to not lose possession.
17:46And in my mind, I really believe that this team in the future can be a real dominant force.
18:00We're doing more, but I want to be even more domineering than we have been thus far.
18:09But for me, defending well means first and foremost not losing possession.
18:15Now, when we're out of possession, I think this is a big challenge as well.
18:24We need to build a team that defends well as a unit.
18:30That's important, especially in matches such as these.
18:34Hi, gaffer.
18:35A question for you and a question for Alvaro.
18:40To the gaffer, do you agree that Liverpool are favourites for tomorrow night's match?
18:45Alvaro, what do you make of the new Champions League format?
18:49Is it more exciting?
18:50What do you think?
18:55This is always a rather unusual question.
18:59What does it mean, whether you're favourites or not?
19:02You can say whatever you like here.
19:04Talk is cheap.
19:06But ultimately, what matters is what we do out there on the pitch.
19:16Yes, what we feel at this moment in time is the most important.
19:21Not whether we're underdogs or favourites, but what we feel at this moment in time
19:24is that we feel we can beat Liverpool.
19:26We want to beat Liverpool.
19:28As for me, I like to think that any change that's made is to improve things,
19:39even though there are more matches for us, create a workload and strain.
19:43But there will be more Champions League matches.
19:46Ultimately, when you become a footballer, your main aim, your ultimate goal
19:51is to try and play as many Champions League matches as possible,
19:54score as many Champions League goals as possible.
19:57And so I think this change will be better for us, for the clubs
20:00and for everyone as a whole.
20:11Good afternoon to both.
20:15Gaffer, a game like tomorrow night, do they need to be the occasions
20:20for Teo Hernandez and Rafael Leão?
20:23No, every single match needs to be a game for Teo, Rafael Leão, Alvaro Morata,
20:30the team as a whole.
20:36We speak so much about individual players, whereas what matters most for me
20:39is the team and the players within the side and how they play as a unit.
20:46Of course, when we're good as a team, then of course the individuals
20:51will come to the fore.
20:53It's easier for them to perform and deliver, but I actually prefer to talk
20:58about the team as a whole.
21:02Good afternoon to both.
21:03A question for the gaffer.
21:04From a tactical perspective, were you convinced by Tijani Reinders
21:08as a number 10 and Loftus-Cheek as a defensive midfielder
21:14could we see that a bit more, maybe starting tomorrow night?
21:18And Alvaro, how are you feeling physically?
21:20Are you at 70, 80 or 100% of your condition?
21:25Yes, I did like our shape.
21:28We might be able to see that shape in the future, but every game is a new match
21:36and we'll have a different approach, but I did like our tactical shape.
21:42Not only offensively, but also defensively.
21:47I liked what we did.
21:54Positional play is important for me and what we need to improve
22:01are the connections, the understandings between the various players,
22:05but I did like the way we played.
22:08I'm good, I feel good and I'm very confident and positive
22:12and physically I feel good.
22:17I don't think I'd be available for selection unless I could give
22:22absolutely everything in my power.
22:24Sometimes things work out well, sometimes they don't go as well.
22:29I'd like to play four or five games on the spin, but I can't control that.
22:34But I'm working very hard to be as fit as I can
22:37in the very small time frame available.
22:40The club has given me a huge helping hand
22:46because they supported me with the medical staff
22:49and the physios allowed me to go to Spain for personal matters,
22:53so I'd like to thank the club for that.
22:57Occasionally we take all these things for granted in the world of football,
23:02but they gave me a huge helping hand to try and help me out
23:06and that has meant I've got greater desire to compete,
23:10fight and run and do well.
23:14A question for Morata.
23:16The gaffer said earlier on that he can't lose sight of the fact
23:19that you've got the derby in the league on Sunday,
23:22even though of course you are focused on tomorrow night's game.
23:25You're one of the few players in the team to have beaten Inter.
23:28Can you give some advice on how to do so?
23:31No, not any advice.
23:32The gaffer needs to give us some pointers.
23:35He's the one who knows football better than anyone.
23:40All I can say is,
23:43ultimately positivity breeds positivity
23:46and victories become a habit.
23:50We're not thinking about Inter until after tomorrow night
23:53because if you start thinking about the derby and Inter
23:56then you waste energy
23:59and we might lose sight of what we need to do well tomorrow against Liverpool.
24:04A question for both about Youssef Fofana.
24:08Gaffer, given he's a player you really wanted to sign,
24:11you've now been coaching him for a month,
24:13you've been watching him day in, day out.
24:15What have you discovered about Fofana?
24:17And Alvaro, I'd like to ask you.
24:20Matteo Gabbia said that he was shocked
24:23by the fact that Fofana already speaks good Italian
24:27and there are a number of French players in the side
24:29who might have actually waited.
24:31You came to Italy a decade ago.
24:34How are you getting on with him in the training and the dressing room?
24:39Fofana came in a little bit later.
24:45We haven't had a great deal of time to work with Fofana.
24:49We can't expect him to be at the peak of his powers
24:51at this moment in time.
24:54He's also playing a different position
24:58to the role that he had at Monaco.
25:00He's learning.
25:04He's improving on things in certain details that are important
25:08and I feel that Fofana is improving
25:12and that's what matters.
25:15I believe a great deal in the player
25:18and I think he'll be very important for the team.
25:22But we need to understand that he's only just joined the club
25:25and he also will need time to adapt to Serie A
25:29which is completely different to what he experienced in France.
25:37Yes, what Gabbia said caught my eye as well
25:41because we've got a lot of teammates
25:44and there are a number of players
25:45that haven't necessarily learnt the language over several years
25:48and they've just got very comfortable and settled in.
25:53He doesn't only try in Italian,
25:55he tries to speak Spanish to me,
25:57he tries to speak Portuguese.
25:59He's got a very positive character
26:01not only in football but also in life.
26:03He could go on holiday and he can survive wherever he goes
26:07because he tries with every single language
26:10and that's great for him as a person and a player
26:12is if you're able to settle so quickly
26:14in 25 to 30 days that you're here
26:16speaking to everyone in their own mother tongue
26:18out there on the pitch.
26:20If we don't necessarily understand one another in Italian
26:22that's what we need.
26:23That gives me a big helping hand
26:25when he speaks to me from behind,
26:27when he tells me what to do.
26:28He's got a lot of character and he could be a big player
26:31because he's got the ability to do so
26:33and he's different to almost all of the midfielders
26:35that there are around.
26:38A question for the gaffer I wanted to ask you.
26:42I'm sure you've seen many times Liverpool already.
26:46What are the differences between Klopp's Liverpool side
26:48and the Slot Liverpool side you'll play tomorrow?
26:52Arne Slot has only just taken over.
26:58Of course there are different players.
27:06I don't think there's a huge difference between the two teams.
27:12There are things that are very similar,
27:14the way that they defend.
27:18Four at the top of the pitch defending from the front.
27:22It's very similar to what Klopp came up with.
27:27Their play with the wide players is very different.
27:34The counter-presses very quickly,
27:36winning the ball back very quickly.
27:38It's very similar.
27:39Final question, Pellegatti.
27:41Two very quick questions to Paolo Fonseca.
27:44The first is, you play with three midfielders
27:50because we saw that on Sunday as well.
27:52Given that there are four,
27:54let's leave aside the young players.
27:56Do you not think you're a bit short-handed
27:58given you always pick three in midfield
28:00and you've only got four available?
28:02If there are a few of us...
28:06No, I don't think so.
28:10No, I think we've got lots of midfield options.
28:16We've now had the injury to Ismael Benasser,
28:21but we've also got young players with a lot of ability
28:24like Kevin Zeroli,
28:27who's also played,
28:29Silvano Vos, who's just joined another midfielder
28:33with a lot of ability.
28:39I think we've got some good options in this area of the pitch.
28:42I didn't want to trip you up,
28:44I just wanted to ask you the following.
28:46If you were to win against Liverpool and Inter,
28:51would you be willing to bring us pastéis de nata
28:54before the Lecce game?
28:58I make this promise, if I win both games,
29:00then we all will have pastéis de nata
29:04here in the press conference room.
29:07Thank you very much.
29:08I'll bring some ham on as well if we win both games.