MILAN (ITALPRESS) – “I expect a more concrete and aggressive Milan, with a mentality and approach from the finals, to move forward.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as on Saturday, stands in for Sergio Conceicao – who flew to Portugal for a final farewell to former Porto president Pinto da Costa – on the eve of the Champions play-off return match against Feyenoord. There is to overturn the 0-1 loss at De Kuip, the Dutch away side usually have a different performance “but every game is to itself,” warns Ibra, “We have to be focused on ourselves, on playing our game and what we know how to do. Champions is important, Milan has written a bit of history in this competition. Tomorrow’s is a game we want and we have to win to get through the play-off, Milan has to be present in Champions.” On the possibility of seeing Leao, Pulisic, Gimenez and Joao Felix together from the start “is a question for the coach. We want to win and the eleven who will go on the field and those who will come in at the start will have to work for that. Whether or not ‘the fantastic four will then play we will see.” Ibra knows that “there is so much on the plate, there are so many risks but for a footballer it’s the moments you live for, the moments that make you remember who you are.” In the league, meanwhile, the team is trying to climb back to that fourth place that guarantees a pass to the next Champions League. “You have to approach all games as if they were finals. Those in front of us are doing everything to get to that goal, it will be a battle to the end and we have to beat everyone to get to Champions. Cardinal? We are always in touch, he wants Milan to succeed,” he continued, “He gives strength and confidence to everyone, he is very involved, very much on the ball, he allows you to be yourself, to do your job but he asks for results and we are working to bring them. They also talk about the market and the negotiations for the renewals of Maignan, Reijnders and Theo Hernandez. “We are talking to all three, everything is under control. All three are very happy at Milan and want to stay. Retaining Joao Felix? Everything is possible, he is playing well, we are just at the beginning, at the end of the season we will talk,” retorts Ibra, who is celebrating 14 months as manager. “I’m always relaxed,” he assures, “Step by step you grow, you learn, each day has its own dynamic, you wake up and you have 50 messages but it’s nice, I learn a lot and I give a lot. You look at soccer from a different perspective, I have very good colleagues and every day we talk, I talk more with them than with my wife now…”.Speaking of the market, in January there was a lot of talk about a possible farewell of Fikayo Tomori. “I have always said that from the first day here I felt at home and nothing has changed,” commented the person concerned, also in a press conference on the eve of Milan-Feyenoord.I know that every market there are rumors but I was and am focused on what I want to do. It’s a pride and a pleasure to wear this jersey, I never had the desire to leave and as long as they want me here, I’m staying.” As for tomorrow, “we have to arrive on the field with the right attitude and the will to win that we always have. The first game was not what we wanted but we know what we have to do tomorrow, we have to win with one-two goals but we are ready and loaded to do it. In every game the goal is not to take a goal, tomorrow will be different because we start from 0-1 but we know our qualities – he added – The important thing is not to take a goal but if it happens we must not lose concentration.”- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
