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00:00Good morning, welcome along to the Matchday Minus One press conference ahead of Milan Cremonese.
00:07We'll start with Milan TV. Thank you, Nicole. Good morning, coach.
00:11We're ahead of the first game of the Serie A season.
00:14If you were to sum up this summer, which began on the 7th of July,
00:21I think about all the thoughts that you've had about the group of players,
00:25the squad that you've said, the players are very hard-working and this constant presence at San Siro.
00:32The fans have always been turning out.
00:35After the 71,000 against Bari, there might even be 75,000 tomorrow against Cremonese.
00:42So the squad and the fan base, is that the foundations?
00:46First and foremost, welcome along, everyone.
00:50We begin our season tomorrow with an important game.
00:53It's our first game and there's a lot of curiosity even from my side as well,
00:57because I'm back in the dugout after a year away.
01:02That said, the fans are very important.
01:04We're delighted with the support that we received beginning with the Bari game in the Cup.
01:11There'll be 75,000 tomorrow against Cremonese.
01:14And all together, we need to start a process whereby we come into the month of March
01:20and we're in the best possible league position because come March,
01:24that's when the season will be decided.
01:26It's the business end of the campaign.
01:28So we need to work over the next six months to make sure that we're in the best possible position come March.
01:33As for the squad of players, we've been working together for six weeks
01:37and I am very happy with the team from a technical perspective,
01:43but above all, in terms of the morale of the group of players.
01:49The lads really want to work hard.
01:51They want to achieve things.
01:53It's a group of players that's becoming a team.
01:56And I think that's the most important thing.
01:57So I'm delighted with that.
02:01But tomorrow, the league season begins.
02:05And we'll have a tricky, difficult game
02:08because the first matches of a league season
02:11are always the most difficult, if you will,
02:17because maybe your fitness levels aren't 100%,
02:20because the transfer window is still open.
02:24There are a number of different factors for that.
02:25So we need to be focused on what our goal is tomorrow,
02:30namely a victory against a team in the shape of Cremonese.
02:35They're awkward customers because Davide Nicola teams are always very awkward.
02:40They won't give you too much space.
02:42They'll shut things down.
02:43So we'll need to be very patient.
02:47One question each, please.
02:50As you said, 45 days have gone by since you took charge of this team.
02:54I won't ask you to necessarily sum things up.
02:57But in terms of the technical and moral standing of your players,
03:03have you been more concerned?
03:04What have you seen over the last six weeks?
03:07Deep down within you,
03:08do you know what sort of level your team could be at?
03:12Look, I think the only thing that you need to do is to always try and strive for the utmost in terms of targets.
03:22It's only through self-belief and hard work that you need to do day in, day out.
03:29Because I always say that the Serie A season is like a cruise.
03:38You need to be at cruise control.
03:41You mustn't have up and downs.
03:42You need to be at consistent speed.
03:44There'll be 38 games.
03:46We hope there'll be a lot of highs.
03:47But there will also be some tough times that we need to manage.
03:51And we need to be calm when doing so.
03:53That's why we need to make sure that we are balanced throughout here at Milan.
03:59Because our aim is that Milan will once again be involved in the Champions League.
04:05We mustn't, however, put a ceiling on our targets.
04:08This is a group of players that is developing, that is growing.
04:11The players have the belief, and all of us have the belief, that we can achieve great things.
04:19But we do so via responsibility, working on details, hard work, and professionalism.
04:27Hi, Marco Russo da Zon.
04:29What do Milan need to look like from here onwards?
04:32What do you want in terms of guidelines, footballing principles?
04:36I'm not necessarily asking about your footballing philosophy, but in terms of ideas.
04:39How do Milan need to look?
04:42Well, first and foremost, we need to be a team.
04:47We need to be a team that goes out onto the pitch with the belief that we respect every single opponent.
04:59Because you need to win matches out there on the pitch.
05:03Tomorrow's game starts nil-nil.
05:05It's not that we begin 2-0 because we're AC Milan.
05:08We need to win the game out there on the pitch.
05:11In terms of guidelines, they're not necessarily guidelines.
05:13They're normal things in football whereby in order to achieve a result, you need to do well when you're in possession to go and score a goal.
05:21And when you're out of possession to defend.
05:23Because, as I said, this is ultimately what makes the difference in the knowledge that every game that we go and play will be difficult to win, above all in the Serie A, because it's a very tactical league.
05:42But also, you'll need the utmost respect, regardless of the opposition.
05:48I'd like to ask you, what's your priority been?
05:58We've noticed that you have moved to a back three.
06:02This was a team that was conceding a number of goals in recent seasons.
06:07It feels like this could be your priority.
06:10And then the bookmakers are also saying that Milan are the favourites for the Scudetta.
06:15What would you say to them?
06:18As for whether we're favourites or not, as I said, there are eight teams.
06:23And typically, the favourite is the team that won the previous edition of Serie A, and that's only natural.
06:29Then there's Inter, which is a great team.
06:32Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio, Napoli, who are favourites.
06:39Juventus.
06:42So, there's a collection of teams that will all strive for the top four positions, and we're part of that as well.
06:49We need to do a very good job, day in, day out, in terms of the work that we're doing.
06:56As I said earlier on, keeping on an even keel, which is the most important thing.
07:01What was the first question that reminded me of that?
07:03Ah, the defence.
07:04It's not a case of back three or back four.
07:07It's about the defender's skill sets.
07:10Because rather than Fikayo Tomori, then as a right-back, you pick someone who pushes on a bit more.
07:19The game is always the same.
07:21It comes down to the players' qualities and their attributes.
07:26Tomori's more defensive player, so it needs to try and give more balance to the team.
07:31So you can play with a more attacking profile or less attacking.
07:35The same goes for midfield and the forward line.
07:37The most important thing is that the team has balance in terms of the way they play the game and order.
07:42That's the most important thing.
07:43Let's go to Gazzetta dello Sport.
07:46Hi, Max.
07:50It was a big summer overhaul.
07:53A number of players have bid farewell.
07:54A number of players have come in.
07:56What do you make in general terms about those that have come in in terms of the squad, in terms of completing the squad?
08:03And do you think the squad is ready or do you still feel that you might need a new face or two?
08:10I'm not talking about necessarily names, but rather situations and positions.
08:14I think the club have done a very good job in the transfer market, both in terms of players going out and players coming in.
08:20The players that have come in are young players with a lot of potential and quality.
08:26We are working together on a daily basis with the club.
08:30We're sharing what our targets are with regards to what we need for the team.
08:37But I think the club is keeping a very close eye on that.
08:41There's still 10 days of the transfer window to go.
08:44But at this stage, above all today, the most important thing is tomorrow's game.
08:49We mustn't think about other things because that's pointless.
08:52I'm very happy with the players I have to pick from.
08:54Hello, Gaffer.
09:02I wanted to ask you specifically, what's it like to coach a player like Luka Modric?
09:13What stage is he at in terms of his fitness levels?
09:16Because I think after the last friend, he said he's not yet ready to play 90 minutes.
09:21How's your relationship with him?
09:24What can you say technically about Modric?
09:31I think his career speaks for itself.
09:33He's a former Ballon d'Or winner.
09:35He's a wonderful player when he touches the ball because he plays the ball more with the outside of his boot as opposed to his instep.
09:44And there are very few players playing with the outside of their boot these days.
09:48But above all, as a player and as a man, he's a very humble figure within the dressing room.
09:55And it's only natural that he can't necessarily have the same physicality that he had 10 or 20 years ago.
10:00And so, together, we're trying to best manage this season.
10:07He's very willing to work hard.
10:09And above all, he really has shown physically that he is very fit.
10:18Ultimately, it would be up to me to try and manage him.
10:23I'll try and use him as best I can because he's going to be very useful for the team, both on and off the pitch.
10:30And that's what's really struck me.
10:34La Repubblica and then Pietro Mazzara.
10:39Hi, Max.
10:39I wanted to ask you something.
10:41You look very excitable and enthusiastic about this fresh start.
10:45Could you talk to us about your mindset on the eve of this Cremonesia game after a year out of the game
10:51and maybe your desire to prove a point after the difficult farewell from Juventus?
10:57Difficult farewell from Juventus.
10:59Because it wasn't necessarily that, because we finished by winning the Coppa Italia.
11:03So, it was a nice sign-off and send-off.
11:06But things start and finish in life.
11:10And as I said, Till, when I came back here after eight years at Juventus,
11:16it's only natural that I am still very tied to a number of people who still work at the club.
11:21As for enthusiasm, yes, I am very enthusiastic because I'm very passionate about the work I do.
11:26And so I'm delighted.
11:29As for tomorrow, tomorrow's a problem.
11:31Because after a year out of the game, I don't know necessarily how I'll work.
11:40I hope not to do too much damage after a year out of the game.
11:42Because the other day, last week, I was in the stands, so I didn't get too close.
11:48I hope not to do too much damage in the dugout tomorrow, above all, because I hope that the players can reward me with a victory on my return to the dugout.
11:56Hi, coach.
11:59Fifteen years ago, in your first game against Lecce, you came in.
12:02Milan won 4-0.
12:03Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in the stands.
12:06And San Siro was very excitable.
12:08This afternoon, Victor Boniface is coming to the club.
12:12And in terms of numbers, you spoke about the crowd support.
12:16But you'll also have noticed that the atmosphere wasn't necessarily getting behind the team.
12:20Do you expect the next home game against Bologna for San Siro to go back to being the 12th man that it also was 15 years ago that helped your team to win the Scudetto?
12:32And are you happy with Boniface?
12:34Look, with regards to the player, he's currently not a Milan player.
12:39So I'll only speak about players as and when they are registered as Milan players out of respect for the other club.
12:46As for the fan base, we need to do a good job in terms of bringing the fans with us, in terms of technical performances.
12:54But above all, we need to show team displays where we need to go out there to really try and earn every inch after inch and ultimately win matches.
13:06And as and when we do that, the fans and the crowd will certainly give us a hand.
13:10Tele Lombardia.
13:11Hi, coach.
13:12A year ago, there was a team like Milan that wasn't involved in European football, but there was a coach that came in and said, I always finish first or second.
13:24And it's a similar situation here.
13:26Milan finished eighth last season.
13:28They're out of Europe, but they've got Max Allegri.
13:32Does that bother you?
13:33Does that give you pressure?
13:34Does that inspire you?
13:36Do you feel that responsibility?
13:37It's not a case of, oh, Allegri's here, so Milan are going to win.
13:42I think we need to do work as we are doing, along with everyone else, the club as well.
13:50There's one thing that I've learned because I've had the good fortune to work for two huge clubs in Milan and Juventus.
13:57At big clubs, it doesn't matter who the coaches or who the players are.
14:03It matters about the club, what matters is the club's history, and that needs to be respected all across the board.
14:10And when you're at a massive club, you need to feel that responsibility to work in a certain way so that you don't make mistakes.
14:21That's what's crucial.
14:22And then we all do make mistakes, but you need to try and work to avoid mistakes, and that means that you are switched on and you are focused.
14:32So I'm very happy to be here, but all of us together, we have to work to make sure that Milan, because Milan is above all of us and above everything,
14:42so that the club can go back to playing in the Champions League next season.
14:46Hi, coach.
14:50Besides the 3-5-2, back four, and so on and so forth, as you were saying, the players' skill set, so maybe Fikaio Tomori on the right as a defender.
15:03But if someone goes out to the right, they're in the three players in the middle, have you asked for an extra centre-back,
15:08or are you happy with the four central defenders you have?
15:12No, I'm pretty relaxed, because I've got four centre-backs, of which two can play on the right,
15:19Kony De Vinta and Fikaio Tomori, in certain situations.
15:23But they could also play.
15:27Alex Jimenez could play there.
15:29Zachary Atacama could play there.
15:32So I'm very calm and relaxed about that.
15:34What matters is that everyone is fit and firing, in order that we can have a full squad to pick from.
15:42And certain situations will become crucial.
15:44And that's why, given that we're starting the season tomorrow and we've got one game a week,
15:52but ultimately, nine times out of ten in a league season,
15:57ultimately the match winners are the players coming off the bench,
16:00because games changed drastically in the last 30 minutes in terms of the results.
16:05So the players coming off the bench ultimately can prove to be match winners.
16:15I'd like to stay on the tactical side of things, but talk about the other end of the pitch,
16:18so the final third.
16:20The fact that you're playing with two strikers, I think this has been dictated recently by the fact that you didn't have
16:28Santi Jimenez in Asia and you were missing some players against Bari.
16:32But when everyone is available for selection, will we see Milan with the front three,
16:37so a centre-forward with Liao and Pulisic either side of him?
16:40At this moment in time, if I'm not mistaken, we had Rafael Liao centre-forward, Pulisic and Salamac,
16:49as we've always had three up top as to whether they're closer or further away from the centre-forward.
16:55But, you know, we throw the players out there and something happens with that.
16:58But in terms of characteristics, Rafa did a very good job at centre-forward.
17:03I'm delighted with how Santi Jimenez has looked since he came back in.
17:06And then tomorrow, we hope that he's able to last the whole game, because he only joined up with us on the 5th of August.
17:14But we've got Samuel Chukwese on the bench, we've got other players.
17:17What matters is having spirit, the right spirit in order to go out there on the pitch.
17:23And above all, when the going gets tough, that's when you really need to stand up and be counted.
17:28Calciamercato.com
17:30Hi, coach.
17:32Your sport for choice in midfield, a number of players, a number of different qualities, different skill sets.
17:41We saw Ruben Loftus-Chiq playing excellently in pre-season.
17:44I wanted to ask you how you see him ahead of the game and whether Luka Modric can actually start the game tomorrow.
17:52With regards to Modric, I will make a decision on that today, as to whether he starts the game or whether he'll come off the bench.
18:01As for Ruben Loftus-Chiq and Yusuf Fofana, they are two players that are both physical and technical.
18:07I think, come the end of the season, we need to make sure that the two of them need to have scored 15 goals between them, come the end of the campaign.
18:22Hi, coach.
18:28I wanted to ask you a question about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, given that you're back here.
18:35How has your relationship changed?
18:37Have you spoken to him recently?
18:39How has he changed and how is he the same as he was?
18:42We had a player-coach relationship, Zlatan and I, but I'm still a head coach.
18:57He's changed jobs in the intervening period.
19:02But Zlatan is a very intelligent guy and he's trying to understand things, how he can get better,
19:08because he's now doing a job which is completely different to the one he did in the past.
19:12So he's willing to learn.
19:14He's certainly a benchmark above all for the players.
19:17And he can certainly be an asset on that score.
19:20In giornale.
19:21Hi, coach.
19:22Just a quick question about Rafael Liao.
19:24How is he?
19:25Will we see him in match day two?
19:28No updates at this stage.
19:31He's okay.
19:35And we hope that we'll be able to see him on the pitch at Lecce.
19:39Otherwise, we'll see him after the international break.
19:41Final questions?
19:46Hi, coach.
19:48When you were unveiled, you spoke about the importance of becoming a squad of players, a group of players, a team.
19:55How far along are you in terms of that process with the transfer window still open, players coming and going?
20:00And is there a specific player that's really caught your eye?
20:06Caught my eye?
20:07No, not necessarily.
20:08What I would say is the team are excellent technically as well as physically.
20:17I think this team has a huge potential, but it always starts with self-belief, with conviction in your mindset.
20:28You mustn't necessarily get hung up on what you have achieved.
20:36You need to work on your mistakes.
20:38I don't know whether I said this in a press conference, but I've certainly told the players this.
20:42When we're a big club, the rule is to win games.
20:46That's the normal situation.
20:50So we all need to have that conviction.
20:52We know that we need to struggle because I've never seen a team win without rolling their sleeves up and getting down to work.
21:00Hi, Max.
21:06You've taken over a Milan side that finished eighth and then lost against Dino Zagreb and then went out to Feyenoord.
21:14So it's a team that will weigh off the pace.
21:16When you were coaching, did you not think, how did this group of players finish so far off?
21:22Because this is a really good team.
21:24Do you have a good team?
21:26And what do you believe that you have extra in terms of the favourites inter-Napoli and Juventus?
21:36This talk is cheap.
21:39As I said, you know, I always make this joke.
21:43But we need to walk the walk.
21:47We've got a game tomorrow.
21:48The team has some great ability.
21:51And I always say that if good players, they stay good.
21:54And if they're bad players, they stay bad.
21:56A bad player can become a little bit better.
21:59A good player can become a bit better.
22:05Given that football is not an exact science, there are a whole host of different variables.
22:10And how you manage unforeseen circumstances is crucial.
22:14It changes from one day to the next.
22:16So you can only imagine how much it changes from one year to the next.
22:19So in terms of the experience I've had, for a number of years, we started with an idea whereby I was going to pick the team one way and then come the end of the season, we're playing another way.
22:30Because you start to get to grips with the balance.
22:33You get to know the players.
22:34You start to see that alchemy amongst the players, which is ultimately crucial.
22:42Milan won the Super Cup last season.
22:44They got to the Coppa Italia final.
22:45So that shows that there is ability in this team.
22:48And that's what we need to work on.
22:51As for the dynamics, I wasn't here.
22:53I can't speak to those.
22:55And I mustn't judge what happened last season.
22:58I don't want to judge either.
22:59And it's not fair to judge either.
23:01Only those that are inside the club can know about the dynamics of last season.
23:05Thank you very much, everyone.
23:07All the best.
23:07Have a great day.
23:08Have a great day.
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