Conceicao wants more Milan passion as derby looms
Sergio Conceicao hopes AC Milan can overcome its recent difficulties and rediscover its "passion and desire" in the Milan derby on Monday (AEDT).
Conceicao started his time as Milan coach with a four-match unbeaten run which included a dramatic 3-2 win over Inter Milan to clinch the Supercoppa Italiana title in January.
However, a 2-0 loss to Juventus in mid-January halted progress, meaning Milan has two of its past four outings in all competitions, including a shock 2-1 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
It was a costly defeat that saw it miss out on an automatic qualification spot for the Round of 16, meaning it will instead face a two-legged play-off agaist Feyenoord.
"There is a lot to improve," Conceicao said. "We have to work to have the base.
"As a coach, I always have my bags packed because a coach's [life is] like that."
Against sides in the current top eight of the Serie A table, Milan has collected just five points, fewer than any other side. However, its sole such success came against Inter in the reverse fixture.
"In [the Supercoppa Italiana final in] Riyadh, the players understood well that positive energy, a sparkle in their eyes was needed to play like children," Conceicao added.
"That's what I mean when I talk about passion and desire. This is what I try to convey.
"[But] in terms of the game, we are still very far from what I want. I like a compact team that presses high, with a very high intensity, that creates a lot offensively.
"You ask me if I have the players to play this game. At the moment I say no. This is why we play differently ... And this is not an excuse, because when I came here I already knew it."
Milan faces an Inter side hungry for a derby win and in a confident mood after Simone Inzaghi's side, second in Serie A and three points off leader Napoli with a game in hand, secured a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 berth by beating visitor Monaco 3-0.
Milan, also with a game in hand on the top sides, is seventh in Serie A, 19 points off the pace.
"I faced Inter with Porto, they haven't changed much," Conceicao said. "The players know each other well and it's very positive for them.
"We have to understand what we can do to counter their game dynamics and attack their weaknesses."
