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00:00Good afternoon, everyone, welcome along to this pre-match press conference on the eve
00:04of Atalanta-Milan, Milan TV.
00:19Good afternoon, Gaffa, I'd like to ask you, you're up against Atalanta and everyone thinks
00:26this is an awkward match, but Milan go into it after three straight wins, you're scoring
00:31lots of goals, it's probably your best run of form in terms of the feel-good factor.
00:36Is this the best time to face Atalanta?
00:38I don't think there's ever a good time to play Atalanta, but yes, we are on a good run,
00:48we are improving, the team are full of confidence, but we know that it's always very difficult
00:58to take on Atalanta, they're in good form, they've won each of their last eight league
01:05matches and I think they've scored 25 or 26 goals in that time, they've only conceded
01:10four, they're a really good team.
01:18We know it will be a very difficult match, but we're ready and we're confident that we
01:26can play against Atalanta at this moment in time.
01:29Sky, speaking of confidence, the feeling is, I don't know whether you share it, is that
01:35after a number of different attempts, it doesn't, I don't know whether you've necessarily found
01:40the right shape, but it feels like you're on the right track, I don't know whether it
01:43comes down to psychological factors or tactical factors, the team no longer sort of conveys
01:51anxiety, do you agree with that?
01:53Yes, I agree.
02:04I think a lot of that comes down to the way that the team defends, it means that we have
02:10a greater confidence and there's more stability in the team, it's true, three or four matches
02:17ago we did feel a little bit uncomfortable defensively, now that's not the case, the
02:25team looks more comfortable, they're more stable defensively and that of course then
02:33breeds confidence when it comes to attacking, when it comes to taking the initiative, I
02:38agree with you.
02:39My second question is as follows, over the last four months, when the going's been good
02:44or not, you've often defended Serie A, because you said that it's difficult to play in Serie
02:52A, you keep listing Atalanta as an example of how difficult it is to play against Atalanta,
03:00as an international coach, as a European coach, is it a new frontier, Atalanta, the way they
03:04play football?
03:13It had been a long while since you'd seen a team play 11 against 11, man against man
03:18all over the pitch, football much like life is cyclical, these things come and go, but
03:32Gasperini has been a pioneer, a trailblazer in terms of setting up this way, and now everyone
03:44in Europe is aware of the fact that it's difficult to take on teams like Atalanta, what's more,
03:55there are a number of teams that now follow the same Atalanta model, the other day I was
04:06reading an article and looking at a study that they conducted in Germany, and there
04:14are a number of teams that now play this way, Bayern Munich are a team that now play like
04:22this, VfB Stuttgart are a team that play like this, there are a number of other teams
04:26that do so, why?
04:29It's because I think they have followed Atalanta's lead, and Gasperini's example, I really do
04:36think that they are a benchmark internationally, the way Atalanta play football.
04:43Good afternoon Gaffer, do you also share the opinion that this match could be decisive
04:51in terms of showing that it could be a real turning point for you in terms of the league
04:55season, you can start a whole new campaign, if you will?
04:58No, I don't think the team necessarily needs this fixture to grasp what we're achieving
05:06and what we're producing.
05:08It is an important match, it's not crucial in my mind, but it can give the team plenty
05:17of positives, of course, we're on good form, but winning a match like this against Atalanta
05:25would of course breed even more confidence going forward.
05:31Do you think you can actually take this game as an example of how far you've come defensively,
05:40because Atalanta are so strong in the final third, aren't they?
05:48As I've said, we are confident defensively at this moment in time, but I think it is
05:53a real test, because Atalanta are such a good team in an attacking sense, they're a team
06:02that creates so many chances in the final third, so I do think it will be a good test
06:07for us, not only for the back line, but also for the team as a whole in terms of how we
06:14defend.
06:15Rai, good afternoon, a team that creates a lot of chances, scores a lot of goals with
06:24Adam Oluokman and Matteo Retteghi, they create a number of opportunities.
06:28One of their players is Charles de Ketelaer, and Charles de Ketelaer really has burst onto
06:33the scene under Giampiero Gasperini, he's a former Milan player, are you worried about
06:39how motivated he might be tomorrow night?
06:44I don't know, look, this happened with me in the past as well, at times it's the way
06:53you set up, and the playing style, which can ultimately benefit or not a team, whether
07:02a player is more or less suited to a certain style of play, that's the way things are.
07:08I don't want to talk too much about individual Atalanta players, because the most important
07:18thing when it comes to Atalanta is their team as a whole, and they're very, very strong
07:23as a side.
07:24Mediaset.
07:25How would you define yourself as a coach, a modern coach, an innovative coach, a coach
07:36that's able to surprise your colleagues?
07:39I know that you work a great deal psychologically, you've always got an open door policy with
07:44your players, it's a different way of doing things compared with Conte, who's more of
07:48a drill sergeant, more of the boss.
07:53How are you working in Italy, there's always a lot of controversy and pressure in Italy,
07:57particularly from the outside world, how do you conduct yourself?
08:02I don't like talking about myself.
08:05I think it's up to you guys to talk about me.
08:13What I can say is that I feel really good here in Italy, I really enjoy it.
08:19It's hugely stimulating for a foreign coach.
08:23Of course, I already spent two years here in Sedia, but it's different.
08:35It's more stimulating being here, and also coming up with a different way of looking
08:42at things.
08:46Sedia is obviously very different in my mind.
08:53I was talking to my staff in recent days, and I said that only by being here, and by
09:02living Sedia day in, day out, experiencing it, only then can you understand how different
09:06it is.
09:07Because we talk amongst ourselves, but I think the coaches that aren't here in Sedia, they
09:12don't necessarily fully grasp what Italian football is all about, and what it can actually
09:22offer you, bring you as a coach, absolutely.
09:31Being here is very, very difficult.
09:36I'll say it again.
09:41The top teams in Europe now have the opportunity to play Italian teams, and you only need to
09:49look at the results.
09:52What's happening with the results?
09:57They only play us every now and then, but doing so week in, week out, it's very difficult
10:02First, the way that a number of teams defend here in Italy is different.
10:18I'm 100% sure that when I talk about playing a team that man-marks all over the pitch,
10:29it's more difficult than playing a team that presses high or plays zonally.
10:34That's clear in my mind.
10:35Then the physicality here in Italy, plus the way teams defend.
10:46Then you've got the fact that trying to find space here in Italy is not easy.
10:57If you talk about intensity, I think the Premier League, there's greater intensity there.
11:01But here, it's different.
11:04It's different here.
11:05Good afternoon, Gaffer.
11:12Because you're saying that a team that man-marks all over the pitch is very complex, do you
11:17think tomorrow night's match will be the hardest game for Milan to interpret tactically thus
11:23far this season, because Atalanta are past masters in this approach, or do you plan
11:30to once again use Younes Moussa on the right-hand side to help the team defensively, like you
11:34did against Empoli and Real Madrid?
11:37Yes, Moussa will start tomorrow night.
11:42I think we've prepared very well for the game.
12:00Of course, it will be a very tactical encounter.
12:11It's very easy to understand how Atalanta play.
12:14It's easy to say they do this, that and the other, and they don't change.
12:19But it's difficult to counteract them.
12:22It's difficult to counteract them, because they do a very good job of it, not only defensively,
12:29but also offensively.
12:37I think we are prepared to play Atalanta.
12:41Good afternoon, Paolo, good afternoon.
12:43Earlier on you said that tomorrow night's match will be an important game, but not a
12:47crucial one.
12:48However, in order for Milan to get back in the title race, as you are often referencing,
12:54Milan need to keep believing in the title race, even just to get back into the Champions
12:59League places, Milan need to make up some ground, because you dropped points earlier
13:02on in the season.
13:03Knowing that your team is not necessarily able to come away with a draw and play for
13:08a draw, do you think a draw would be a good result tomorrow night?
13:11No, I always think about winning.
13:15I've never considered that.
13:20Before any game, in my mind, I'm only focused on one result, one outcome, that's winning.
13:27I don't want to think about any other result.
13:34Good afternoon, coach.
13:39I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.
13:42First, which Atalanta match have you shown recently?
13:47None?
13:48No, no.
13:49I haven't shown any match in full.
13:55I've shown a few clips and sequences from matches.
13:58The second is, Pep Guardiola, a while ago, before he came up against Atalanta, said it's
14:05like going to the dentist.
14:07I wanted to know from you, whether you've been to the dentist recently?
14:26I completely understand what Pep was saying.
14:29I don't know whether it's like going to the dentist or not.
14:37But it is a game where you have to work hard and sacrifice.
14:40It involves commitment, attitude, approach.
14:54Pep said that playing against Atalanta is like going to the dentist, because you only
14:58go to the dentist once a year.
15:01But I can't say that, because I go to the dentist several times a season here in Italy.
15:09It's almost become par for the course.
15:14Our most recent match against Empoli was an example of that.
15:18Of course, it's slightly different in terms of quality, but the way Empoli play is the
15:23same as Atalanta do.
15:24It's the same approach.
15:26Sport Italia.
15:27Good afternoon, coach.
15:30In your four previous encounters against Gasperini, you've never won any of them.
15:35You were also on the receiving end of a very heavy defeat during your time with Roma.
15:41Are you keen to get the better of Gasperini, beat him for the first time up against this
15:48Atalanta coach that won the Europa League?
15:50Are you intrigued and stimulated by the individual tactical battle?
15:54No, quite personally, there's no specific desire to defeat Giampiero Gasperini.
16:03I'm the first to say that Gasperini is unique, and we need to acknowledge and recognise the
16:13work that Gasperini is doing, the job he's done.
16:16He's brilliant.
16:17I've got the utmost admiration for Gasperini.
16:22No, there's absolutely nothing personal about this.
16:30If he's beaten me three times and I've only drawn one match, there's no additional motivation.
16:38I want to win this match just like I want to win every other game.
16:44I don't want to prove anything on a personal level.
16:48The only desire in my mind is to win the game itself.
16:56We all need to really give a lot of credit to Gasperini.
17:01I give him a lot of credit.
17:04I apologise for my voice.
17:06Ah, you've been out doing karaoke?
17:08I wish.
17:09No, I've been to the dentist.
17:13No, I was asking you, in terms of your game plan and strategy, how pleased are you in
17:20terms of Raphael Liao's progress?
17:22Not only in terms of what he's producing on the pitch, he's more of a forward, he's more
17:27of a match winner, he's getting out of his comfort zone, but also in terms of his approach,
17:31he looks a bit more mature.
17:35Is that just my take on things, or is that true?
17:37No, I don't think it's just your impression.
17:40I think that's the reality.
17:49But I think Rapha does have room for improvement.
17:55Yes, he has played well in recent matches, he's had a good defensive approach as well,
18:06but I'm not completely satisfied with what he's produced.
18:09But I think Rapha still has it within him to do even better.
18:15And I think in Rapha's mind, he always needs to think that he can do better.
18:19He's scored five goals, but in his mind, he needs to think that he can score 20, because
18:25he's able to do so.
18:30When you have those capabilities, you need to be demanding with yourself, and I think
18:34that's what Rapha needs to do.
18:37He never needs to rest on his laurels and coast and get comfortable in terms of what
18:41he's already achieved.
18:42He needs to be ambitious to do even more, because he has the capabilities to do so.
18:50Is he on the right track?
18:51Honestly, I believe so, but he mustn't stop now.
18:55Sartorio, good afternoon, coach.
18:59In recent matches, Milan have shown some encouraging signs, and you have struck on the right balance,
19:07you spoke about Younes Moussa, who's a starter, but Tami Abraham and Samuel Chukwese are also
19:12pushing their players.
19:14In terms of the Nigerian, how is Chukwese adapting in terms of trying to play like Moussa,
19:21because he looks like he's doing better defensively?
19:23No, very well.
19:27I remember a couple of games ago, I was talking about Chukwese coming on and getting back
19:38into our own box and clearing two balls.
19:40He's adapting very well.
19:45When we need our right winger to do that, then Chukwese is doing a good job.
19:53He's making progress.
19:56Chukwese is someone who works very hard for the team, there's no issue on that score.
20:08Can we say that he's better than Moussa defensively?
20:10No, Moussa is better defensively, but Chukwese can do so in certain matches, as he has done,
20:15because he's a very responsible player.
20:17Bressi, good afternoon, coach.
20:20The other day you said after the Empoli game that you could change things in terms of the
20:27shape based on the opposition.
20:30Feels like you've struck the right balance, but based on your opposition, Milan can also
20:34change things.
20:35Often, however, when big teams find the right shape, they keep that.
20:42In order for Milan to become a great team, do you need to not necessarily adapt to the
20:46opposition, but actually impose your will on your opponents?
20:55Changes are now very strategic.
21:04We won't change the guiding principle of our team play.
21:10Obviously, we're not a team that plays man v. man all over the pitch, so I'm not going
21:17to play that way against Atalanta, but we can tweak things in terms of our game plan.
21:26We always want to take the initiative in an attacking sense against any opposition, but
21:35this Atalanta match is not necessarily a game where opposition teams can take a lot of offensive
21:42initiative.
21:44You can't simply camp out in the Atalanta penalty area, no.
21:48I don't recall any team being able to do that.
21:53Clearly, I know where the game will be won and lost, and it's not going to be near Atalanta's
22:08goal.
22:09Final question, Carlo Pellegatti.
22:11Good afternoon.
22:13Maybe talking to your wife, you said, oh, I was pleased with that.
22:21What are you most pleased about and what would you boast about in terms of what are you proud
22:27about in terms of the work you've done here at Milan, in terms of individuals, the way
22:31the team play has progressed, or what is something that hasn't yet satisfied you that still angers
22:37you and you haven't been able to convey?
22:41There are a number of things that I'm pleased with at this moment in time.
22:53One in particular, the way the players have improved, the players' development is very
23:00important.
23:06I think that's one of the most important things in my role.
23:09Of course, I want to win, I want to win trophies, but looking at the people that work with me
23:17and seeing them develop, that's what I'm most pleased about.
23:30Of course, at this moment in time, there are players that are giving me that satisfaction.
23:41I think it's a privilege, day in, day out, to be Milan head coach.
23:52As for the things that haven't totally satisfied me, I can't list those, I'm afraid.
24:05Yes, there are certain things in terms of individuals and there are things in terms
24:11of the team as a whole, but I don't want to go into them.
24:13There are.
24:22If one day I'm able to get there, then one day I might actually come in here and say,
24:28yeah, I've made it.
24:30But I think I'm still some way off where I'd like to be.
24:37I just wanted an update in terms of Sportiello and Loftus-Cheek.
24:51Ismael Pena says, looking sharp, he's had a new hair dye.
24:54Okay, so aesthetically he's looking good.
24:56No, but physically he's doing well too.
24:59It was nice to see Isma back.
25:04He was out for a long time, came back today and we're pleased about that.
25:12He's looking good, he's well, but of course he does need a bit more time before he can
25:16resume full training with the squad.
25:19But I think he's coming towards the end of his recovery period so that he can resume
25:26full training.
25:27Everyone else is available for selection, including Sportiello and Loftus-Cheek.
25:30Thanks very much, everyone.