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00:00Good afternoon everyone, welcome along to this pre-match press conference on the eve of Milan-Udinese, we'll start with Milan TV.
00:07Thanks Nicola, good afternoon Gaffer.
00:09I'll ask you this question not to show off a statistic, but I'd like to ask you this because you love to look forward,
00:17you love to focus on the importance of the upcoming match.
00:20In the last nine years, Milan against Udinese, two wins for Milan, five draws and two Udinese wins, perfectly balanced.
00:28That also shows just how focused we need to stay tomorrow, doesn't it?
00:32That's a statistic that I hadn't actually looked at, if I'm perfectly honest,
00:37but I did know that there always is a huge difficulty in beating Udinese here at San Siro,
00:48and I don't think it will be any different tomorrow.
00:52Udinese are a good team that are having an excellent start to the season,
00:57they're a very aggressive side and they play good football.
01:03Udinese are really up for this game as well.
01:12I'm sure that we need to be at our best in order to come away with maximum points tomorrow night,
01:20because it will be a very intense, difficult match.
01:24Sky, good afternoon.
01:28Twelve days ago, we spoke to you after the Fiorentina game and you were pretty angry about the defeat in general.
01:33How have the last twelve days gone?
01:36I'm sure you've met the team, spoken to the players.
01:39What's the mood in the camp, as opposed to the technical or tactical side of things?
01:43How's the psychological side?
01:46The first day went very well, because I didn't really see anyone at all,
01:51I didn't really look anyone in the eye, I was very angry,
01:54and they all went on international duty, and that was good,
01:57because after matches like that, I don't really like to see anyone at all.
02:04It was normal.
02:07We didn't have too many players to train,
02:11so we did a lot of sessions with players from Milan Futuro,
02:16and we made the most of this opportunity to work with the youngsters from Milan Futuro,
02:23and we only had the whole squad back yesterday in training.
02:30We did what we would ordinarily do in a normal week,
02:34which was to talk about the previous game, the Fiorentina match,
02:37and begin preparing for the upcoming fixture against Udinese.
02:42That's the time that we have available in order to prepare the Udinese game.
02:51But I know there will be a number of questions about that.
02:56Yesterday was very important for me to actually talk about what happened at Fiorentina,
03:00as opposed to necessarily talking about the Udinese game.
03:04It was today that we started to speak a bit more about the Udinese match.
03:08And if I may ask you, what was the tone of the conversation,
03:13what was the subject matter that you said to the squad?
03:16Everything that you could think about,
03:18that it's only natural to speak about what had gone on.
03:25I know one thing.
03:30I'm not closing my eyes to the problem.
03:33There are always issues in every team.
03:36You know that there are some issues that are more than others in certain teams.
03:40We have an issue, so we need to actually take the problem head on,
03:45look one another in the eye.
03:47I won't close my eyes to it, I won't shy away to it.
03:49That's what we did with regards to the issue that we have.
03:52Dazon, good afternoon, Gaffer.
03:54I'd like to come back to that question.
03:57You've always shown in the past at Roma that you're a quiet leader,
04:01and this quiet leadership is not necessarily par for the course here in Italy.
04:07Do you think that you can occasionally be misunderstood?
04:11What does misunderstood mean?
04:14No, that I haven't understood.
04:16No, that your silent leadership might be misunderstood by people in the media.
04:32I don't lead the team in a way to be an exhibitionist.
04:36I'm not an actor.
04:39What I think is what I say inside the dressing room,
04:42face to face with the players, with some of the players.
04:47Because if we have a few issues,
04:50I'm not bothered at all by the name of the player.
04:55That's what I always do.
04:57I think that's an important part of leadership,
05:01not a case of looking away when there's an issue.
05:04You have to tackle the issue head on, face to face,
05:08directly with the team
05:13or with the players that have got things wrong, made mistakes.
05:18Sport Italia.
05:21Hi, Gaffer.
05:22Coming back to what you just said,
05:27have you spoken to Ibrahimović?
05:34Would it be nice to actually have Ibra here on a daily basis
05:37to actually help manage the players?
05:39To be honest, I didn't understand the question.
05:43Have you spoken with Ibrahimović about what went on over the last few days,
05:48what happened at Fiorentina?
05:50Yes, yes.
05:52No, we speak on an almost daily basis
05:55about absolutely everything that goes on inside the team.
06:00We travelled back after the Fiorentina game,
06:03we took the train together,
06:05we spoke immediately after the match.
06:07That's only natural.
06:11Corriere della Sera.
06:13Good afternoon, Gaffer.
06:21After what you've just told us about this dialogue,
06:25this discussion with the players in the dressing room,
06:28can we therefore expect you to make some changes
06:34with regards to your team selection?
06:38Those that made mistakes at Fiorentina,
06:41will they in some ways be punished in terms of your team selection?
06:45Let's have a look tomorrow.
06:47We'll see tomorrow.
06:52For me, team spirit is very important.
06:57What matters most is the team.
07:00No player is more important than the team itself,
07:03than Milan, the club.
07:08We need to step up and take responsibility when we make mistakes.
07:13And if someone gets it wrong in terms of team spirit,
07:20it's very difficult for me.
07:23It's difficult.
07:25It's hard to take.
07:26We'll see what happens tomorrow.
07:28Can I ask you another question?
07:30Yes.
07:34Would I be right in saying that you want to show
07:44that the criticism that you've received,
07:47namely that you're not in charge of the dressing room,
07:49is actually not the case?
07:53And so maybe now is the time for you to actually walk the walk?
07:58No, I don't need to demonstrate anything.
08:00I'm not an actor.
08:08I think these days in football,
08:10so many people actually need to show things to the outside world,
08:13but I don't need that.
08:14This is how I've always been, right from day one.
08:17Ask the players the same question.
08:18If you have the opportunity, ask the players the same question,
08:21how I've been right from day one.
08:26Gazetta.
08:28Gaffer, yesterday Tijani Reinders said something that I was very curious about.
08:32When he said,
08:37we're getting tactical information from Paolo Fonseca
08:40and we're gradually starting to implement things.
08:43This gradually struck me.
08:45Why do you think there's been a bit of a delay
08:49in terms of your ability to impart this knowledge to the team?
08:53And when can you actually speed up that process?
09:04I always want to tell the truth.
09:08It's hard to change things.
09:10It's always hard to change things.
09:14It's hard to change a number of different things.
09:21Are we changing things?
09:22Yes, we are changing things.
09:26I've also given this some thought
09:30and I need to understand that these are major changes
09:34and that I need to be more patient than I necessarily expected to be.
09:41We need time.
09:44Yes, maybe we need a bit more time to try and change things.
09:49We are seeing things.
09:52We're starting to see important things come through
09:55but we need to press on
09:59and that's because we don't actually have too much time on the training ground
10:02so gradually we will improve things that we need to improve.
10:06The things that I believe that we need to improve upon.
10:11Milan News.
10:13Good afternoon, Gaffer.
10:14I'd like to ask you first and foremost who will replace the suspended Teo Hernandez
10:18and before the international break you were really focusing on one concept.
10:23You weren't changing your team, you wanted continuity in terms of personnel
10:27so I won't make wholesale changes.
10:30You now have seven matches in the space of 21 days.
10:33Will you rotate a bit more?
10:36Maybe, maybe.
10:40Yes, I think that's what we need to do at this moment in time.
10:43What was the first question?
10:44Who will replace the suspended Teo Hernandez?
10:46I haven't decided yet.
10:51Daniele Longo.
10:52Good afternoon, Gaffer.
10:53I'd like to ask you whether you kept an eye on what your players did on international duty
11:02so maybe Younes Moussa playing out on the wing,
11:06something that he did a lot against Inter but less so against Fiorentina.
11:12Christian Pulisic might be an example of that as well.
11:19One final quick question.
11:21Can Noah Okafor play tomorrow and how has he looked over the last few weeks?
11:24As for Younes Moussa, I think I'm lucky enough to have a player
11:34that can operate in several different positions.
11:36In terms of the way we're playing, I don't think he can play on the wing at this moment in time.
11:45He can play in another position but in terms of the way that we set up,
11:49I don't see him playing out wide.
11:51And what was the other question?
11:53Okafor.
11:56He's an option but I don't know whether he'll start.
12:00Gioia.
12:02Good afternoon, Gaffer.
12:03You'll be without Davide Calabria due to injury and Teo Hernandez due to suspension.
12:10Who's going to captain the team and could Alvaro Morata be the skipper?
12:15He skippers the Spanish national team, for instance.
12:19That's a good question to actually clarify the captaincy.
12:28I came here and Milan already had three captains.
12:32Davide Calabria, Teo Hernandez and Rafa Leal.
12:37Why?
12:42Because they're the players with the most appearances at Milan.
12:48I might or might not agree with that but I respected what my predecessors decided over the last few years
12:58and I need to respect that.
13:00What I think is that this team actually needs more leadership.
13:10It's not important which player goes out there on the pitch and wears the armband.
13:16I think in the dressing room it's important to have two or three players that can really share around the leadership.
13:28That's what I think.
13:34I don't know.
13:35No, I do know but I don't want to necessarily tell you.
13:38I think there are other players that can actually help these captains to lead the team
13:44and leading the team is not necessarily the only player with the armband on.
13:48It's more than that.
13:49It's a lot more than that and we need to see that leadership.
13:54And I think we have other players that can help.
14:04I'd like to come back to what you were saying earlier on.
14:08Does the fixture list allow you to have enough time to actually work with the team?
14:13Do we need to expect a few scrappy matches that you might be able to win
14:18until you're able to actually get to the style of play that you want to see?
14:28I'm working very hard to improve the team and to get to where I want to be.
14:32We don't have a lot of time, that is true, but we're doing what we can with the very little time that we have available.
14:43The players are responding well to that, albeit with limited time available.
14:51Even though we have one or two days to actually work on things,
14:57but we need to continue.
15:01I really believe we will be a different team in the future.
15:05Good afternoon, Gaffer.
15:07Between now and Tuesday the 29th of October, there will be two Serie A matches
15:13plus a Champions League game against Club Brugge.
15:16Is this the crucial period of the season, the first crucial run of the season,
15:20above all to show that the derby win wasn't necessarily a coincidence,
15:25you prepared for that match well and you'll presumably do likewise for the upcoming games?
15:30I think every game is an important match and every period is a crucial one.
15:39That's why I'm not thinking too much about the long term,
15:44because the most important match is tomorrow night.
15:49We have a very challenging fixture tomorrow evening.
15:52I can't think about the other games that come after that, three or four matches from now.
15:57It's all about tomorrow, because we don't have time.
16:00And with the very limited time we have available, we have to get the players focused on the next match.
16:06That's why I'm not necessarily thinking about it too much.
16:09But here at Milan every match is crucial, it's important, it's decisive.
16:14They're all crucial.
16:18Maybe for the fan base the derby was a decisive game,
16:23but I feel that every game is decisive, every match is crucial.
16:28Paolo Vinci?
16:31Good afternoon, Gaffer.
16:34My colleague Pasotto asked me in terms of the gradually from Tijani Reinders,
16:39you said that making changes is always difficult,
16:42but making changes is above all difficult technically, psychologically, in terms of fitness levels?
16:50In every area, because they're all interlinked, they're inextricably linked.
16:55For example, we can talk about tactics, shape and formations,
17:04but quite honestly, do you think we didn't win at Fiorentina because it was a tactical issue?
17:11Do you think that we lost the game in Florence because it was a tactical or technical issue?
17:19No, it's more than that.
17:30I think we need to do away with formation and shape.
17:33We didn't have that desire, that winning edge in the first half to run more than Fiorentina.
17:43That's up there as well.
17:46Yes, we can work on absolutely everything,
17:48but I think the most crucial factor that I saw was that we weren't aggressive enough.
17:58And that's not about tactics, that doesn't come down to tactics.
18:02We need to run more than the opposition.
18:05And we didn't do so.
18:07We didn't do so.
18:11Stefano Bressi, good afternoon, Gaffer.
18:15In light of the situation in the final third of the pitch,
18:19could we see Christian Pulisic playing as a number 10, maybe with Csukwesi as a right winger,
18:23given that you've played with Alvaro Morata in that position, who's an attacking player?
18:27Seeing Christian Pulisic there with a different shape, is that something we might be able to see?
18:31Yes?
18:32Yes.
18:39Because Christian Pulisic is not playing open at this moment in time.
18:44He's a number 10 or a right winger, but it is possible.
18:51Good afternoon, Gaffer.
18:52Good afternoon, Gaffer.
18:54Over the last few days, the Guardian put Mattia Liberale amongst the 60 players from 2007 age group onwards.
19:04We got to know Liberale this summer with you in pre-season, he showed character as well.
19:10But at the start of the season, he hasn't yet had a look-in.
19:15Despite the fact that he is a genuine number 10,
19:19a look-in is probably your best option in that position, along with Christian Pulisic.
19:23What is he lacking?
19:25And why has he not played thus far?
19:30Right from day one, ever since I've been here, I've always said that I believe a great deal in the young players that we have at the club.
19:38Alexi Jimenez, Bartesaghi, Zeroli, Camarda, Cuenca, Liberale.
19:47These are all players who I believe have a lot of quality.
20:00I think Milan have done a good job of laying the ground when it comes to Milan Futuro.
20:06A place where these young players can play.
20:10It's not easy, this transition, even more so here in Italy for young players to play.
20:15Milan have created Milan Futuro in order for these players to continue their development.
20:23As for Liberale.
20:30Liberale played in pre-season against Real Madrid, Barcelona.
20:37Obviously, these are pre-season friendlies.
20:43But to me, it was clear that Liberale has a great future in the game, provided he shows humility and he continues to work hard.
20:54I think humility is very important.
20:56He could become a very important player for Milan in the future.
21:00When? I don't know.
21:02What I do know is that he's a youngster who works with us and this week he trained with us.
21:11Liberale is a player with a great deal of ability, but he needs to continue his development.
21:19He needs to develop.
21:21If we have the opportunity to integrate him with us and pick him and give him some minutes,
21:27I think he needs to, just like everyone else, he needs to come at the right time.
21:32Because we need to be careful to make sure that he plays at the right time, in the right match.
21:38Otherwise, it could become difficult for a player like him.
21:44What I say about Liberale, and I can already say this, this is the only thing that I'll say about tomorrow's game,
21:51is that he'll be in the squad for tomorrow.
21:53Good afternoon, Gaffer.
21:55A specific question about an individual.
22:02I'm talking about Emerson Royale and his performances.
22:06The fan base are divided on that.
22:11What sort of profile do you want to see from him?
22:14Do you want him to overlap the likes of Ciuquesi or Pulisic,
22:20or do you want him to drop in and play as part of a back three when Teo Hernandez pushes on?
22:33Emerson played as a centre-back at Tottenham.
22:36We watched a number of their games.
22:38He played in a number of different positions.
22:39I think he can play as that sitting full-back, if you will.
22:45I think that might be his strong suit.
22:48That might be where he's best suited to.
22:51The problem is that we haven't used this shape thus far.
22:58And I don't think he can play as a centre-back.
23:01I don't think he can play as a centre-back.
23:04I don't think he can play as a centre-back.
23:07And the way that we play with Pulisic coming infield,
23:12he almost has the responsibility to get up and down that right flag.
23:16Quite honestly,
23:22I think that Emerson Royale's best position might be
23:26to play as a sitting right-back.
23:30We'll see whether we can play with that particular shape.
23:35Shasha, good afternoon.
23:37Gaffer, I'd like to ask you another question about Christian Pulisic
23:41because his head coach, Mauricio Pochettino,
23:44at the US men's national team said that he's very tired
23:47and he needs to be protected.
23:49Do you share that opinion?
23:51Is he tired?
23:53That's what he said.
23:55First and foremost, I need to thank Pochettino
23:58for releasing the player from the second game.
24:02It wasn't a competitive fixture
24:04and he had the sensitivity, sensibility,
24:08to give him a breather in that second match.
24:11And I really liked Mauricio Pochettino's approach on that score.
24:21As to whether he's playing a lot, we have seven games coming up.
24:24If we think that Pulisic is tired now at the start of the season,
24:29what are we going to think when he's played another 20 games,
24:3320 games down the line?
24:37We are playing more football, but Christian's on top form.
24:45He's possibly the player at the start of the season
24:48that's had the greatest success.
24:50Possibly the player at the start of the season
24:52that's had the greatest amount of consistency, in my mind.
24:57It doesn't make a lot of sense.
24:59It's pointless to talk about tiredness or fatigue
25:02at this stage of the season.
25:04Pellegatti, last question.
25:10A quick question.
25:12Are you enjoying it?
25:14Am I having fun?
25:16I'd like to enjoy it a bit more.
25:21Being a coach, and that doesn't only go for Milan,
25:31it's true in every team in terms of responsibility.
25:36It's not a very pleasurable experience.
25:40It's not a very fun thing to do.
25:43I don't have a smile on my face every single day.
25:46There are ups and downs.
25:47Because I think at this level,
25:50it's hard to always have a smile on your face.
26:01But there is one thing that I know.
26:05I'm always passionate.
26:07I put passion into everything I do, day in, day out.
26:12I would not swap my job for anything else.
26:15I would not swap my job for any other job in the world.
26:20It's not because I'm richer than ordinary folk.
26:23It's because I love what I do.
26:25Is it difficult?
26:27It is difficult.
26:29It's also difficult for our families.
26:33It's difficult because I don't go home with a smile on my face every day.
26:37I see the kids.
26:39I try and go home and actually shut the door
26:41and forget everything that goes on in the workplace.
26:46But it's not easy.
26:54I've had a number of tough times,
26:56but there's a number of moments when I really enjoy it,
26:59where I love it.
27:02So I think coaching at this level is not easy necessarily
27:06to be the happiest person in the world, day in, day out.
27:09But there are a number of happy times,
27:12even when the going gets tough.
27:15When the going gets tough,
27:17when you're able to solve a problem,
27:19of course that's a source of happiness.
27:22And being a coach at this level,
27:24we have issues day in, day out.
27:26Thank you very much, everyone.