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00:00Good morning, everyone. Welcome along to this first pre-match press conference ahead of the EA Sports FC Super Cup.
00:10It's the third year in a row that we're playing here with a four-team format.
00:15We have a simultaneous interpretation on-site in Arabic.
00:19We're also being streamed live on the Lega Serie A YouTube channel, so please introduce yourselves when you put your hand up.
00:26Nicola Pozzi, Milan's communications manager, will run the questions.
00:34And if you could keep that space free, please, we can get started. Thank you.
00:37Thanks very much, everyone. Welcome along. Thank you for attending.
00:41We'll start this pre-match press conference with Max Allegri and Mike Mignon.
00:45Let's start with the questions in Corriere della Sera.
00:51Hi, Max.
00:51The draw against Sassuolo has essentially confirmed your curse against the smaller sides this season.
01:04When you play against newly promoted teams, typically you get a negative result.
01:11There's no risk of that tomorrow. It's a big match.
01:13But how do you explain the fact that you're inconsistent?
01:21Is it a mental issue? Is it in terms of your play? Can you resolve it in the January transfer window?
01:27Hi, everyone. Welcome along to this press conference.
01:30First and foremost, it's a completely different game tomorrow because it's a knockout match
01:35where our aim is to try and get into Monday's final.
01:42Tomorrow we're against a Napoli side that are very good.
01:45We've seen that in Serie A.
01:49They are right behind us in the table.
01:52So it'll be a very difficult match.
01:54As for the issues in terms of conceding goals, there are times when we are conceding goals that we could have done better on.
02:06But we need to focus on tomorrow's game.
02:08And once we get back to Italy, let's hope that's Tuesday, we'll pick up the Serie A chat once again.
02:15Hi, a question for Allegri and one for Mignon.
02:24Gaffa, I wanted to ask you how Yusuf Fofana is and indeed how Rafa Liao is.
02:32They're with the squad and because they're on their way back from injury,
02:35are they already ready to start the match in the semifinal tomorrow
02:40or whether you'll need to manage them with one eye on the possible final.
02:49And as for Mike, you were here last year and you won the trophy.
03:00What do you expect from this Super Cup Final Four?
03:04And I also want to ask you about your future.
03:07Where you go, Mike?
03:09Hi, everyone.
03:10Yes, we won last year, but last year is in the past.
03:23This is a new campaign and we need to be focused solely on tomorrow night's match
03:28because that's the most important game.
03:34Because if you don't win tomorrow's game, then you won't be involved in Monday's final.
03:39So we need to try and get a positive result.
03:43We need to try and stay focused on today's training session so that we go into tomorrow night's match in good form.
03:51As for Fofana and Liao, Fofana is 100% available and we'll see after today's session as to whether Liao will be available or not.
04:09Any other questions?
04:14Any other questions?
04:15Any other questions?
04:16Any other questions?
04:17Any other questions?
04:18Any other questions?
04:19Hi, Mike.
04:20Hi, Coach.
04:21Hi, Mike.
04:22Hi, Coach.
04:23Coach, I wanted to ask you, at this moment in time, are you currently thinking about tactical variations?
04:33You're always playing a 3-5-2.
04:35Have you considered going back to a 4-3-3, which is what we spoke about at the start of the season,
04:42maybe to make do with some of those injuries?
04:45Are you thinking about that or maybe going forward?
04:50It's not a case of 4-3-3 or 3-5-2.
04:55We've always played with three attacking players.
05:02And the player that always provides balance is Alexis Salomac.
05:05He becomes the third attacker when we attack and when we need him, he becomes a fifth defender.
05:11There are some players that we've got back.
05:17Atakami gives you extra options.
05:19Ardon Yashari has also come back in good physical shape.
05:24So what matters at the moment is getting everyone available for selection, physically,
05:29because they're the ones that can give us a real lift in terms of energy,
05:33because we've always played with the same personnel thus far.
05:36Hi, coach, Pianeta Napoli.
05:46Napoli were playing with a back four in the reverse fixture in Serie A,
05:50but now they're playing with a back three and two wide players.
05:55Do you want to have an overload in the midfield and have a player between the lines,
06:00like Udinese did with Zaniolo between the lines?
06:03Regardless of how Napoli is set up tactically, they're a very strong side.
06:13They've got a great deal of quality at pace.
06:16They score a lot of goals inside the penalty area.
06:19But it is a knockout game tomorrow, so I think it will be a different match to the one that we saw in Serie A.
06:30Either way, it will be a great match, because there are some excellent players out there on the pitch.
06:40Hi.
06:42Question for Mike.
06:44Mike, you won the Super Cup last season in a campaign which was very tricky.
06:49I'd like to ask you, and hearing what your teammates have said, they've spoken a great deal about the strength of the squad, being a big family.
06:58What's changed between last season and this term?
07:01And how do you feel going up against the other sides in this Super Cup?
07:06Do you feel more together, stronger?
07:08Talk about this change, please.
07:10It was nice to win the Super Cup last season, but as I've said, this is a new campaign.
07:17And as you have already seen, our results have been better until now.
07:24Sure, as my teammates have said, we are more of a team this season, we are more of a family, a group of players where we all get on with one another.
07:41A number of things have changed.
07:46The head coach and his staff have certainly brought a lot of calm to the club.
07:53They have their own way of working.
07:56We need to continue in that vein and make sure that we keep this tempo up and try and improve day in, day out, so that we can get positive results.
08:10But in order to do so, we need to be very focused on what's to come both today and tomorrow evening.
08:23And only after that, then can we take steps forward.
08:26Hi, a question for the head coach.
08:31I wanted to ask you, you've brought five players from Milan Futuro here in Saudi Arabia.
08:38What have you made of them and are they aware of the great opportunity that they have to be involved in such a prestigious competition?
08:50Besides the fact that they have excellent quality, it's also a reward for the job that they're doing.
08:57I think the under-23 side needs to be an important catchment area for Milan's future to make sure that we have two to three players every season coming from the under-23 side.
09:12But you can't do that in one year. It takes several years. It's a process to try and make sure that then there is a lot of quality in the first team squad.
09:21I think it's a very important experience for them. And we're delighted to have them with us.
09:31Hi, coach. We've now found out that Santi Jimenez needs to have ankle surgery and that you're in for Niklas Fulkrug.
09:43Would you be happy with that in terms of numbers? And when do you think Jimenez could be back?
09:50As for Santi Jimenez, he had a spell on the sidelines where we had some conservative therapy. Things were going well, but unfortunately, over the last few days, the ankle injury has flared up.
10:08He's had a consultation and the doctors have advised him having a small procedure, which I believe will be conducted tomorrow morning.
10:17I hope he's out for as little time possible. As for the transfer market, we haven't spoken about that.
10:22Milan's current transfer dealings are to try and get the players back that we have in the squad to make sure that we have a lot of players physically fit and available.
10:33And after the Super Cup with the club, we will assess what we can do and any market opportunities that might arise.
10:40Any local media with questions?
10:46I'm not exactly a local journalist.
10:59Napoli have lost their last two games across all competitions.
11:06Is that more of a banana skin the way that Conte prepares matches? Do you expect them to respond?
11:14Tomorrow we're certainly up against the very angry Napoli side because they've lost their last two matches.
11:22But it's also a target for them, just as the Super Cup is for us.
11:29So I think it will be an excellent game tactically and technically.
11:35When the going gets tough, Conte typically is able to get the best out of his teams.
11:43We need to make sure above all we're mentally prepared to approach the issues that will arise during the game itself.
11:52I would like to ask Mike, you are entering the last year of your contract before starting the season.
12:04How difficult it is to enter the last year of your contract and how you stay focused and letting know that all the people are speaking about your future and that.
12:19How to stay focused in all of this saga?
12:23This doesn't work, but I think I've understood everything.
12:30I think what matters most is what I'm able to do day in day out.
12:44Of course, my future does cause people to talk about it, but I mustn't become distracted by that.
12:56I need to stay focused, as I always say, to make sure that I give 100% on the pitch.
13:03I don't think now is the time to talk about my future because we have an objective very close, which is tomorrow night's game.
13:12I need to give my all tomorrow against Napoli and then see what happens after that.
13:26Hi, coach.
13:27You've already played and beaten Conte's Napoli side this season in Serie A.
13:31Was there something that really caught your eye that you want to use again ahead of the semi-final?
13:37More than caught my eye, I think it's more the recent matches against Juventus at home and away at Rome and Napoli have been very powerful physically and athletically, so we need to expect a very physical encounter tomorrow with a lot of intensity.
13:56And we need to prepare as best we can tomorrow to make sure we produce a very neat and tidy performance technically.
14:05Buongiorno, Massimo.
14:06Buongiorno, Mike.
14:07Mohamed Fayad, Arab News.
14:08My question to you, Mike, so playing in a different continent where football is growing rapidly, a lot of fans in the kingdom are very passionate about Milan, how does it feel to be playing in front of all of these fans again?
14:24It's a little bit different to what we can experience year-in, year-out domestically, but given that we're focused on this game, I don't think we need to necessarily listen too much to what's going on.
14:53I don't listen too much to what's being said in this stadium.
14:57We need to focus on our brand of football, on our things, what the coach says to us.
15:02It will certainly be a great game because I experienced it last season.
15:09And there are fans in the stands that are very passionate, so we need to give our all.
15:23And that's what matters most, opposed to what's going on around us.
15:30Mike, are you coming back? Last year was obviously successful, talking about this year's event.
15:39What does it feel like to come back and hopefully, you know, retain the time zone in front of a large,
15:44what's a daily crowd we're expecting here in Greece?
15:47It's simple, as I said earlier on. Last season is part of the past, it was nice, but this is a fresh campaign and we need to give our all to try and reproduce the same results.
16:13Any other questions? Last question up the front here.
16:20Any other questions?
16:22Any other questions?
16:26I've got a very simple message for the Saudi fans.
16:53Thank you very much for supporting Milan.
16:59And I believe we can give our all for all of you that are here for us.
17:03One final question up the front here, and then we'll finish up.
17:20Over the years, Mike, you've worked with a number of different goalkeeping coaches.
17:24This season you've been working with the Philippe and you're back to your best.
17:28What's changed since he's come into the club?
17:33Do you feel better alongside him because you seem to be at the peak of your powers physically
17:38and mentally?
17:40What has Philippe's arrival given you?
17:47I like to speak in simple terms.
17:52He's brought a lot of calm.
17:54He's someone who's hugely experienced.
17:56He's very cool.
18:02And he knows how to manage a group of goalkeepers.
18:06So working with people like him makes it a lot easier.
18:09I don't want to draw any comparisons just to be clear with the other goalkeeping coaches
18:15I've worked with, but I really like working with him in terms of what he makes me do day
18:22in, day out on the training ground, in terms of how he manages my character.
18:27So I'm very happy and I hope that that will continue for the rest of the season.
18:38Thank you very much, everyone.
18:40Thank you very much, everyone.
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