Sergio Conceição Faces Supercoppa Challenge Against Son's Juventus
AC Milan's newly appointed coach, Sergio Conceição, is gearing up for a high-stakes Supercoppa Italiana semifinal against Juventus, which will see him face an unusual challenge: his son, Francisco Conceição, is a player for the opposing team.
Conceição took charge of Milan on Monday, succeeding Paulo Fonseca, and has had just a few days to prepare for his debut match. Despite the limited time, the Portuguese manager expressed confidence in his team’s readiness.
“I found a team that is humble, eager to learn, and wants to understand what the coach requires,” Conceição said during a press conference on Thursday. “We haven’t had much time to work, but we’ve been effective in conveying what is needed. Of course, I would have liked more time, but we are focused on the task ahead.”
The match adds a personal twist for Conceição, as his son Francisco could feature for Juventus. However, the 50-year-old coach insisted that family ties will not influence his approach.
“At home, I’m his father. On the field, he’s my opponent,” Conceição remarked. “I want to beat him just as he wants to beat me. Tomorrow, it’s all about football.”
Juventus coach Thiago Motta, speaking in a separate press conference, praised Francisco’s readiness but remained non-committal about starting him.
“We’ll see if he plays or not. He’s motivated to do well, whether from the start or coming off the bench,” Motta said. “Facing a great team like Milan is what matters, not the personal dynamics.”
Motta also emphasized his focus on Juventus’s performance, regardless of Milan's recent managerial change. “What matters is what we do, not what they do,” he added.
The Supercoppa Italiana semifinal promises an intriguing clash, with Milan looking to make a statement under their new coach and Juventus aiming to maintain their competitive edge.
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