Conceicao Sr. Wants to Beat Son's Team in Supercoppa Italiana Semi-Final

AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao will face his son Francisco's Juventus team in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, but says it's 'business as usual'.

Newly appointed AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao has acknowledged that he could benefit from more time to prepare for the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana match against Juventus. Conceicao took the helm at Milan on Monday, following the departure of Paulo Fonseca.

Conceicao will face a unique challenge in the match against Juventus, as his son Francisco plays for the opposing team. However, the Portuguese manager has assured fans that he will maintain a professional demeanor, refusing to let family ties cloud his judgment.

Sergio Conceicao's tenure as AC Milan manager will begin with a challenging Supercoppa Italiana semi-final match against Juventus on Friday. Conceicao acknowledged that he has had limited time to prepare for the encounter, but expressed optimism about the team's eagerness to learn.

Conceicao shared his initial impressions of the team during a press conference on Thursday, saying: “I found a team that is humble, eager to learn, and wants to understand what the coach requires.” He emphasized the importance of this attitude, adding: “This is very important; it is the foundation for quality work, in my opinion.” Despite the time constraints, Conceicao believes they have made the most of their limited preparation time, stating: “We haven’t had much time to work, but we’ve been effective in conveying what is needed.”

When asked if he would have preferred more time to work with the team and have all players available, Conceicao replied candidly: “If you had asked me whether I would have liked more time to work and have all the players available, I would have said yes.”

Juventus manager Thiago Motta addressed the media in a separate press conference, where he revealed that he had not yet made a decision on whether Francisco Conceicao would start against AC Milan. Motta stated: “We'll see if he plays or not, he's motivated to do well both from the start and during the match. I don't think it changes anything for him; facing a great team is the only thing he needs to focus on.”

Motta emphasized that Juventus would not underestimate AC Milan, despite the recent coaching change. He said: “We will definitely be ready because we know what we need to do against a great team, accustomed to important competitions. What matters will be what we do, not what they do.” This mindset reflects Juventus' focus on their own preparation and strategy, rather than worrying about Milan's coaching situation.

Sergio Conceicao, the newly appointed AC Milan manager, will face a unique challenge when his team takes on Juventus, as his son Francisco Conceicao plays for the opposing team. However, the 50-year-old Conceicao emphasized that their family ties would not affect his approach to the game, saying it would be “business as usual.”

Conceicao acknowledged that his relationship with his son would be put on hold for the duration of the match. He explained: “I just have a cold and I've had a fever these days, if you see my eyes are a little shiny it's because of that. At home I'm his father, tomorrow my son will be my opponent: he will think the same way.” Conceicao made it clear that he is determined to emerge victorious, stating: “I want to beat him as he wants to beat me. I hope I don't make him happy.”