Conceicao Prioritizes Serie A Top-Four Finish Over Champions League Glory

AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao is focusing on finishing in the top four of Serie A rather than targeting Champions League glory, ahead of their match against Dinamo Zagreb.

AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao emphasized that his team's focus is solely on their upcoming Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, rather than the highly anticipated Milan derby against Inter Milan this weekend. Conceicao's team is sixth in the European standings with 15 points and has already secured a playoff spot. However, a win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday would guarantee their position in the top eight, ensuring direct qualification for the round of 16.

Time for a big finish in the #UCL league phase! 💪#DZGACM #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/GByKxC3HB3

— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 29, 2025

Sergio Conceicao stressed that he is taking things one game at a time, saying, “I think game-by-game, I don't make calculations two games at a time.” He acknowledged that the match against Dinamo Zagreb will be challenging, stating, “We have to focus on tomorrow which will be important and difficult to achieve the second goal.” Conceicao also highlighted the team's objectives, saying, “The first goal was to win the Super Cup and we did it well, the second goal is to finish in the top eight in the Champions League.”

Conceicao confirmed that he will not be resting players against Dinamo Zagreb with the derby against Inter Milan in mind. Instead, he will focus on the Champions League match and then shift his attention to the derby. As he put it, “We are focused on this match, we will think about the derby on Thursday on the plane returning home.” AC Milan's Serie A position is less convincing, with the team sitting seventh, 16 points behind their neighbors Inter Milan, who are second in the league with 50 points.

Focusing on Immediate Goals

AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao has played down talks of winning the Champions League, instead focusing on finishing in the top four of Serie A. Milan defeated Inter in the Italian Super Cup final earlier this month, but Conceicao, who replaced Paulo Fonseca in December, is taking things one step at a time. “There are many games left, the goal is to finish in the top four (in Serie A),” Conceicao said. “We don't think about the derby, let alone the final phase of the Champions League. Looking ahead, we don't see the stairs in front of us and we risk tripping.”

Milan's next challenge is a Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb, who must win to have any chance of making the playoffs. Dinamo are currently 26th in the standings with eight points and need a top-24 finish to advance. Conceicao is aware that facing a team of Milan's stature can motivate the opposition, saying, “They are two great clubs (Porto and Milan). I think Porto are among the first with the most appearances, Milan are the second club for trophies won.”

Sérgio Conceição and Pulisic in the pre-match press conference in Zagreb 🗣️

Follow it live on our App 🔛🔜#DZGACM #UCL #SempreMilan

— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 28, 2025

Conceicao, who previously managed Porto, acknowledged the weight of history that comes with managing a club like Milan. “The DNA is important, the environment that is created in this competition is beautiful. There is also the other part, the motivation that they have in front of historic clubs. Tomorrow we face a team that still hopes to go to the playoffs, it will be very difficult.,” He also noted that Milan and Porto's history as European champions can be a double-edged sword, saying, “Milan and Porto were European champions, this weight on one side is positive and on the other it is also positive for the opponents.”