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00:00A question for the gaffer, good morning Sergio, I'd like to ask you how the first four days
00:10have gone, what are the team looking like and a simple question, what have you liked
00:18about this team and what haven't you liked about this team, what would you retain from
00:22this team and what do you need to change or overhaul?
00:24Good morning everyone, first and foremost I've found a humble team that want to learn,
00:40that's what I've discovered as a head coach with this team, that's very important, those
00:43are the foundations when it comes to doing quality work in my opinion, of course I came
00:52in and immediately got to work the day after, haven't had too much time to work but we've
00:58been very decisive in where we need to improve as a team and we need to prepare the team
01:04for the various stages of the game to make sure that we are as competitive as possible
01:09tomorrow night and we try and win the game.
01:11If I may ask a question to Mike, Mike I'd like to ask you what have you made inside
01:15the dressing room the last few turbulent days, it's been very tricky hasn't it?
01:21Good morning, we know that it's never easy when there's a change of coach but we are
01:31focused and very switched on as to what the head coach and his staff want from us to make
01:40sure that we can get going as quickly as possible.
01:44Let's go to Gazzetta dello Sport, good morning Gaffer, I'm over here, I wanted to ask you
01:52on a personal level what does it mean to immediately come up against a top class side like Juventus,
02:01above all both for you in terms of your career as a player and indeed as a head coach, you've
02:10got some fond memories of matches against Juventus haven't you?
02:15They're all different matches and they all come at different stages too, the timing is
02:21what it is, if you'd asked me if I wanted more days to work ahead of this match and
02:30have everyone available for selection of course I would have said yes but when I came in I
02:33already knew that this was the situation, I didn't have too much time to work, I knew
02:37that there were a number of players out injured, important players and that mustn't be used
02:47as an excuse, we need to go in there with our heads held high, we have prepared and
02:50we continue to prepare because we've still got two more training sessions ahead of the
02:54match and we're preparing to be incisive on what we want to see, it's important to actually
03:04not give the players too much information when it comes to what's important for the
03:08match to try and win the game, ultimately that's crucial for us.
03:11Good morning Gaffer, I wanted to ask you what's it like in your first match as Milan head
03:22coach coming up against the team where your son plays, does that add any emotion, is that
03:26nice as your first game in charge?
03:30They asked me earlier on if I'm excited or emotional, I'm a professional, I'm not emotional,
03:36I'm not excited, I've got a cold, I've got a 39 degree fever, that's why if you're looking
03:42at me and I look a little bit off colour, I had fever overnight, as for my son, my son
03:47like me at home, I'm his father but tomorrow night he's my opponent, he thinks the same
03:55as me because that's the way I brought him up and I want him to be like that so there's
03:59no emotion, I want to beat him just as he certainly wants to beat me, that's only natural
04:04and I hope I'm the happier of the two tomorrow night.
04:07Right, good morning, a question for the head coach and then one for Mike Mignol, I'll start
04:14with the head coach, you said when you came in I knew that the situation was like this,
04:19I also knew that I would have started with a semi-final against Juventus, I'd like to
04:25ask you, is it easier to start with a match like this because of the situation that you've
04:33stepped into at Milan?
04:36It's not easier or more difficult, you need to do so, we need to prepare the match, the
04:40job that we've done, if we were playing against any other team in Serie A or the Champions
04:45League we would have done the same preparation, our job is to try and improve the situation
04:50where I believe we can improve as a team, the players need to understand the various
04:57phases of the game, I know it's not a good time at the moment, we need to change things
05:04and only we with the players can change things by working hard, because as you know talk
05:10is cheap, big clubs like Milan results ultimately are what matter and that's what we're trying
05:18to get, results, the results we're trying to get is to win tomorrow so that we can get
05:23through to the final, that's the most important thing.
05:25And a question for Mike Mignone, thinking about this semi-final people say that it's
05:31Milan against Juventus who are the two very disappointing teams in terms of expectations
05:37in Serie A, as for Milan I'd like to ask you what makes you so disappointed about yourselves
05:44in terms of what you've achieved thus far?
05:52You need to decide whether you're disappointed at the end of the season, now we need to do
05:56everything in our power to try and get more positive results, tomorrow is a semi-final,
06:05it's not Milan-Juventus or Milan-another team, it's a semi-final, it's very important for
06:10the club for us and in terms of what we can achieve we need to make the most of this opportunity,
06:22the right time is tomorrow night and not before then.
06:28Good afternoon Sergio, coming back to Francisco, Francisco loves to define your football as
06:37a free style of play, did you expect him to have such an impact at Juventus?
06:47And what are your thoughts on Juventus under Tiago Motta?
06:54I think Francisco's qualities and attributes are that he plays with a lot of flair but
07:04I'm not thinking about that, in terms of quality players it's important to have technical
07:09quality, understanding the game, reading the game, tactics, everything that we prepare
07:14for the match, physical attributes as well, because if you only have technical ability
07:20and skill then that doesn't matter, he knows that, he also grew up this way and over the
07:26last 13 years that's always been the way I've coached, one player who's only got one skill
07:33set above others then that's difficult for them to play in my sights and alongside that
07:39I knew that he's a player that takes on opposition players but there are other areas of his game
07:45that are fundamental in modern football, so I think if he works on all that then he can
07:52do a good job and he can have a career and thrive here in Italy or elsewhere in the world
07:58where the most competitive leagues are, therefore I think that Juventus have a lot of quality
08:06players, young players that also work hard and that also understand, you know, if you
08:12take Juventus, they're the team that conceded the fewest goals in Serie A, they're the team
08:18that work well, they're very compact defensively and we need to see what we can do to try and
08:25dismantle the Bianconeri to make sure that we disrupt their excellent defensive shape,
08:31of course I don't want to necessarily disrupt quality, we need to be a team first and foremost,
08:39we need to be competitive, compact, aggressive and work as a team, that's the only way that
08:45football works in my mind, otherwise if you only have a talent and a skillful player then
08:51that doesn't really help you much.
08:53For Mike, first and foremost happy new year Mike, I wanted to ask you, you're one of the
09:03leaders in the dressing room of course, the dismissal of a head coach is also the fault
09:10in many ways of the squad as well, so all of the players now have to step up because of what's
09:16happened, what would you say to the fans in terms of calming them down ahead of the future
09:21because the fans aren't overly pleased at this moment in time, what's your message to
09:26the supporters in terms of having a brighter future so that Milan can be back up near the
09:31top?
09:33Thank you, happy new year to you as well, I don't like to talk too much, because when
09:44you talk too much it always becomes a bit of an issue, what I can say is that we're
09:51here to act, we now need to react, we need to do better, I know my teammates, I'm familiar
10:01with everyone and we try and give our utmost day in, day out, do our job and be professionals,
10:10sure the fans aren't happy about our results but nor are we, because we want to do better,
10:16we want to win matches, we're all hugely ambitious, so we try and work every day to give our utmost
10:27and then we'll see what worked and what didn't.
10:34Good morning, a question for both of you, I'd like to start with the head coach, first
10:38and foremost happy new year, happy new year to you and everyone else, you've started to
10:42work with the team, what have you made of Ficaio Tomori, given that people have been
10:48linking him with a move away, particularly with a possible switch to Juventus, I haven't
10:53spoken about a January transfer window, I haven't even had time to do so, that's why
10:58I don't like to talk about individuals to pinpoint someone, Tomori is part of the squad
11:04just like everyone else who is available for selection in the Milan squad and that's
11:09the most important thing for me.
11:12If I can ask a question to Magnol, happy new year Mike, thank you, have you had the chance
11:21to speak to Paolo Fonseca, have you spoken to him since his departure from Milan?
11:26Yes of course, can you hear me?
11:32Just like the great man I am, just like the great men that we are, we have a lot of respect
11:39and so we bid him farewell, we said goodbye to him and everything we said to one another
11:45remains between us.
11:51Good morning everyone, happy new year to all of you, Gaffer, what mark do you want to leave?
11:58If you look ahead to June, six months from now, besides results, what's the first thing
12:02that you'd like to change now in order to be remembered over the next few months?
12:10We need to work day in day out, I'm not a magician, I'm not a visionary, no, I work
12:18day in day out with my group of players to get results.
12:24As I said, the results are the most important thing first and foremost, then we'll see where
12:28we are come May, that's what it's all about.
12:32We think we do a great job, it's difficult for me, 15 years, you know, I was 15 years
12:41of age, there's a lot of pressure, it was an issue when I was 15 at Porto, tomorrow
12:45I'll be a sailor, no?
12:47So we're happy to do this wonderful job, we're well known, we earn good money, what more
12:54do you want?
12:55No, it's true, we're lucky, we're privileged, we need to have passion, we need to have this
12:59hunger day in day out to make the most of something, God has given us a little bit of
13:05talent, we all have a bit of talent, you know, now as a head coach, before as a player, now
13:10my players are certainly talented, so we need to try and change our form with this talent,
13:15with this hard work that I mentioned to your colleague earlier.
13:19Good morning to both of you, a question, best of luck for your first competitive match with
13:24Milan this year, you said you've watched a number of Milan's recent matches, Gaffer,
13:29I don't know whether you've been able to see Milan against Juventus at San Siro, which
13:34is one of the worst games this season, especially in the final third where Milan didn't create
13:38anything, what did you make of that match?
13:43The idea that I got, I also told my players and I'm very honest, I saw two teams that
13:49were afraid of losing, they had more fear of losing the match as opposed to trying to
13:55win the game, that was my idea, you know, the coach did his job and the players will
14:00have prepared for the match as well, there's a lot of quality on both sides, that was what
14:03I saw from the outside, there were some excellent players and tomorrow we need to compete, we
14:09need to have that desire to win, you know, we need to keep an eye on how we defend, which
14:16is important because we know that we're up against some top quality players on the opposition
14:21side.
14:27Good morning to both of you, happy new year to both of you, a quick question on the team
14:31news, how is everyone ahead of tomorrow night's game and the training session tonight?
14:41You said that football is very simple, you've been compared to Max Allegri who coached Juventus
14:46in the past, you've been compared to Conte Simeone, do you think you are comparable to
14:50these three head coaches, Diego Simeone was also a team mate of yours?
14:54No, I've got the utmost respect for everyone but we're all different, the way that we see
14:59football is different, all of the coaches that you've mentioned have already proven
15:11what they can do at every level but I'm who I am, and before you judge me you need to
15:22get results, I need to bring results to Milan, just as Mike said, right, you know, talk is
15:28cheap, we need to act, we need to react to make sure we do something tomorrow, we get
15:32a result and bring a different mood to Milan, and as for the team news, I'm not a doctor,
15:38you know, I'm not the club doctor but there are some players that have only just come
15:45back now, some players have only had one training session under their belt, either they start
15:52the game and I can choose that or maybe they won't play for 90 minutes or they start on
15:57the bench but I need to make decisions, that's what we're here for.
16:01Let's start with the questions from the local media please.
16:13A question for Sergio Conceicao, welcome to Saudi Arabia, we're happy to see you year
16:27in year out for the Italian Super Cup and the first question is to the head coach Sergio
16:33Conceicao, during your training session yesterday what have you made in terms of the development
16:45of the facilities in Saudi Arabia, the training ground, the stadium?
16:57And do you think it's a risk the fact that you've accepted to take charge of Milan?
17:01And a question for Mike Mignon, the tickets were sold out in a few short hours, what does
17:13that mean for you?
17:22There's Yassine Bono and Mendy, some good goalkeepers in the domestic league here in
17:28Saudi Arabia, what do you make of Saudi football and could we see you playing in Saudi Arabia
17:33in the future?
17:34Shall I start?
17:37We've had a wonderful reception here, great warm welcome, everyone's doing a great job
17:46here to make sure that we've got everything we need, so thank you, thank you very much
17:53for your hospitality.
17:58As for whether it's a risk for me to take charge of Milan, that's what life's all about,
18:06I've worked very hard to make it this far, if I didn't want to get here then I could
18:11have stayed at home, I've got a lovely region near Coimbra in my native Portugal, but Milan's
18:21not a risk, it's a source of pride to take charge of a team like Milan.
18:31If I'm completely honest with all of the matches that we've got this season, I haven't
18:35had the opportunity to watch the Saudi league, but it is a league that's growing because
18:43they're signing a lot of players from European leagues, sure they can still grow going forward
18:54in the future, but I don't really like to talk about my future in general.
19:02I don't know whether my future will be in Europe or Saudi Arabia, you don't know that
19:07because football moves very quickly and I need to make the most of the here and now
19:13to make sure that I'm ready to play tomorrow night against Juventus.
19:18Any other questions?
19:19What do you think of the growth of football in Saudi Arabia, how big can it become?
19:37As Mike said, I've kept a closer eye on things, there are some Portuguese coaches, there are
19:44a number of quality coaches, I think it's really grown as a league and you can see
19:49and feel the passion that people have for the game and you grow thanks to that passion
19:54because there's that desire to actually move forward.
19:58There are a number of quality players that have come here and they've really allowed
20:04Saudi football to make a big step forward.
20:22A question for the head coach, Sergio Gonçalves, there are a lot of Milan fans here in Saudi
20:31Arabia, what does it mean for you guys to be here and to put on a good show in Saudi
20:38Arabia for the Milan fans here on the Arabian Peninsula?
20:44There's a huge responsibility to represent this club in these colours, we represent one
20:49of the most historic clubs in world football, there are a number of fans all over the place,
20:54not only here but in South America, China, all over the world.
20:59That's why we want to put on a good show, to make sure that we do justice to these fans.
21:05Any other questions?
21:06No?
21:07Let's have the last question then.
21:10Good morning, happy new year to all of you, welcome to Saudi Arabia, I've got a question
21:24for Sergio Gonçalves.
21:27Have you spoken to Ottavio about moving to Milan?
21:32Look, Ottavio played for me for seven years at Porto and one year at Vittoria Ghimaraes,
21:44he played under me for eight years, he's not a son but he's like a son to me and like children.
21:50I've really given him plenty of clips around the ear and now he's become a friend of mine
21:55so I'm very happy about that.
21:57No, you didn't understand?
22:00You've got the translation, no?
22:01The interpretation?
22:02OK, let's have one last final question.
22:10Hello to both, welcome along to Saudi Arabia, I'd like to speak to you as a Milan fan, thank
22:16you very much for this opportunity.
22:18In 2016 Milan with Vincenzo Montella in the most recent Super Cup, we Milan fans see the
22:30Italian Super Cup as a very simple matter, do the players and the coach believe that
22:41this is an important competition and in terms of your game plan we know that Sergio Gonçalves
22:46has had very little time, so he hasn't had time to necessarily change the playing style,
22:54so as a Milan fan, will there be a change in the way you play and also individually
23:04in terms of Raphael Liao, I want to hear from you what you plan to do, what your intentions
23:11are in terms of changing things.
23:14I can't tell you what I plan to do, otherwise I'll be telling Tiago what I'm going to do,
23:22Tiago will be delighted to know what I'm preparing with the players in terms of game plan, but
23:25the past is the past, now we need to look at the here and now and the future, it's the
23:29most important thing.
23:33What more can I say?
23:38As for other editions of the Super Cup and Milan matches, they've all taken place under
23:43other head coaches, I'm here now, we're going to try and do a bit better than we have done
23:47in recent years, knowing that the most important thing is what we're doing here and now to
23:52try and have a brighter future.
23:54Thank you very much everyone.