Milan, the insistent voice of silence. "Let's just think about our present. It's a game between clubs and not between coaches"

by Luca Mignani

The "clean" work days, without midweek shifts. And practically everyone available. On the one hand, Conceiçao couldn't wait to be able to work "on the field, not just with videos or on the blackboard". On the other, he finds himself at yet another crossroads between past and future, with a heavy present to overturn. There's Como, at 18 pm at San Siro. Which brings with it many entanglements: too many to ignore. The standings are an exception, but they're still crying: fourth place remains in the lead, even if it's eight points away, while minor Europe is at +6. Also in the lead is the reaction to the start of the Sea: it had happened in Riyadh, the first stages of the former Porto era, then with Como and Parma, for example. Translated, character that ultimately emerges. This is what the Portuguese clings to, at the same time in search of balance. A very tough search, while in the company the Furlani current seems to have taken over for the choice of the next sporting direction. And while the chatter about the profile that will occupy the bench from this summer is incessant. Among the names, also Fabregas.

Thus, Conceiçao clarifies: "If my motivation was only to beat him, I would have to go to the hospital. Well done to him, the staff, the many young and quality players he has. But it's Milan-Como, not Conceiçao-Fabregas".

His colleague dodged the issue: "I spoke with Milan in 2016, I decided to stay at Chelsea to show Conte that I could be a protagonist and win with his way of playing". Another name on the possible Rossoneri wish list, together with Allegri. Conceiçao resists but reiterates: "I've been in football since I was nine years old, sometimes there's a lack of respect".

The pitch, in this sense, can overshadow, at least for a little bit, many other issues. The Portuguese knows this well, so much so that he focuses and focuses again on his controversial prized pieces: "Leao is among the best in Italy and can become among the top in the world, we have a fantastic relationship and he is always ready to be useful. Theo Hernandez? I cannot castrate his ability to push forward, I have to let him go and find that balance that everyone is looking for". Como sought him out in January: Milan accepted, Theo did not. Proof, however, of how big the millionaire Como owners think.

"I remember all the people who followed us in Palermo when we lost 3-0. I remember the many people from Como in Salò when we won 5-2. We go up, we go down, but we must be proud of the journey. It's incredible" and we are only at the beginning, the said and unsaid of Fabregas. Who meditates on the trip up he caressed in the first leg, when "for an hour we looked like Milan", he said at the end of the match. Conceiçao, in fact, remains between more fires. Even Lopetegui, recently, recalled his failed arrival at the Rossoneri: "Difficult to understand, strange. There was an internal war".

Past, present. The Portuguese tries to go straight and pay attention above all to the doubts on the pitch. Behind: with the return of Pavlovic, it is a ballot with Thiaw and Gabbia for two places. And in the center, where the doubts are on who to pair between Fofana, Musah and Bondo in a chameleon-like game system. He will think about it this morning too. Then, finally, the match. And, inevitably, yet another crossroads. For this Milan that Fabregas defines as "Champions League".