Conceicao ‘asking for something different’ from Milan talent in new 2025 era

epa11804138 AC Milan’s head coach Sergio Conceicao gestures during the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final match between Juventus FC and AC Milan, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 03 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STR

Sergio Conceicao explains he wants ‘something different’ from Tammy Abraham and Ismael Bennacer at Milan, but sees a ‘fantastic future’ for Kenan Yildiz at Juventus.

The two sides go head-to-head this evening at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A matches on the Liveblog.

Christian Pulisic is ruled out through injury, along with Malick Thiaw, Samuel Chukwueze, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Noah Okafor and Alessandro Florenzi, plus suspended Alvaro Morata.

That inevitably forces changes and limits the options available to the new coach.

“We have faith in all the players, so if Pulisic is not there, someone else will be,” Conceicao told DAZN.

“There is no single player that decides a match, there is a dynamic collective where everyone is important.”

It has been said that Morata is less a centre-forward and more a support striker, so does having Abraham upfront change things for Milan?

“Everyone is waiting for the goals from strikers, but the work that Abraham does is very important for me as a coach. He works so hard for the team, creates opportunities, against Como he provided a great assist for Rafa Leao, dropped deep to pick up the ball.

“The goals will come, because he is someone who knows how to put the ball in the net.”

Bennacer and Milan still adapting to Conceicao

Conceicao confirmed in a pre-match press conference that Bennacer will start, although the midfielder has struggled so far to deliver what the new coach is looking for.

“He was out for four months, so he is missing match fitness, but his intelligence allows him to play alongside anyone. My job is to find the best position for everyone. I am asking him for something different to what he is accustomed to, to be more vertical in his passing, but there will be time to get the message and I hope the final result will be positive.”

The comeback 2-1 victory over Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final was Conceicao’s debut on the Milan bench, going on to lift the trophy after beating Inter 3-2 in stoppages.

With Dusan Vlahovic not fully fit, the focus of the Juve attack will be Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz, who some have compared to Rafael Leao.

“Yildiz and Leao are both great talents, but they are different,” said the coach.

“I really like Yildiz, these are talents who put themselves to work for the team and can decide a match from one moment to the next. However, if a team is not already strong and solid, you will have trouble letting this individual talent emerge.

“I see a fantastic future for them both.”