AC Milan dealt Walker blow ahead of Torino trip
Sergio Conceicao confirmed AC Milan will be without injured right-back Kyle Walker when it visits Torino in Serie A this weekend.
The former Manchester City captain joined Milan on loan for the rest of the season in January, with the Italian side having the option to buy the 34-year-old. Since his move, Walker has made six appearances for the Rossoneri.
Milan is dealing with injury concerns to other key players as well, as it looks to bounce back from its UEFA Champions League exit.
It suffered a shock loss to Feyenoord, which knocked it out with a 2-1 aggregate play-off win to earn a place in the Round of 16.
"Walker is not available. For the rest, it will depend on everyone's situation. [Christian] Pulisic certainly doesn't have 90 minutes on a physical level," Conceicao said.
"[Santiago] Gimenez is getting better every day, but he's still not at the top we want him to be. For the way I want to play, he has to be at the top physically, he has to be intense over 90 minutes.
"I found many players struggling and many injured when I arrived. I'm also thinking of [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek. Now Walker. But playing every three days, in the time I've been here, we're always on the edge, and it's not easy to manage."
Milan is seventh in the Serie A standings after 24 matches and trails fourth-placed Juventus, which has played a game more, by five points. Torino sits 12th.
Since Conceicao's first league match with Milan on January 11 against Cagliari, the Rossoneri have picked up the joint-most points in Serie A – 14, level with Roma, Juventus and Inter.
In Serie A, they are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak, winning their past two without conceding against Empoli and Hellas Verona.
However, Torino is unbeaten in 10 of its past 11 home games against Milan in Serie A; the only away win for the Rossoneri was a 7-0 victory in May 2021, the Granata's joint-heaviest defeat in the competition.
"Without a doubt, it is a very important match against a difficult opponent. They only lost to Bologna in 2025, and historically it is a difficult challenge for Milan," the Portuguese coach said.
"The attitude must be that tomorrow is our [UEFA] Champions League final, and we will have to do so in every challenge from here to the end."
Conceicao said he was used to the pressure, having joined the seven-time European champion in December after a spell at Porto.
The 50-year-old, who replaced compatriot Paulo Fonseca, has a contract with Milan until June 2026.
"I know that Milan's history is fabulous, made up of great protagonists among coaches, players and managers. I have enormous respect for this history," Conceicao added.
"At the moment when you don't win, in a team of this size, there is more talk and more fragility.
"I knew it would be difficult. I am here because it is a great challenge for me. I had other offers, but I chose here because I like difficult things."
