Conceicao and Milan embracing pressure of Coppa Italia final

Sergio Conceicao urged his AC Milan players to embrace the pressure of Wednesday's Coppa Italia final against Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico. 

In what has been a disappointing season for Milan, they can end their campaign with two trophies, having won the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter back in January. 

The Rossoneri sit eighth in Serie A, four points adrift of a spot in the Champions League next year with two games of the league campaign remaining. 

Milan come into the game with confidence too, having beaten Bologna, who they face in the showpiece match, 3-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza last Friday. 

They will contest their 13th Coppa Italia final, last competing in the final in 2018, suffering a 0-4 loss to Juventus.

Milan have only won the trophy once in their last six appearances in the final of the competition, doing so in 2002-03 (6-3 aggregate score over Roma).

This could also be the sixth Coppa Italia win in Milan's history, and Conceicao believes lifting the trophy would be a silver lining for their underwhelming season. 

"It will surely be a pleasure if we can win this trophy and satisfy the fans in a difficult year," Conceicao told reporters.

"From the outside, we may seem angry, but it's not the case. We have immense joy in playing this final. 

"This pressure is part of Milan's history. It's normal in these big clubs. We must only focus on tomorrow and be ready."

This will be the 15th meeting between the two teams in the Coppa Italia. Milan lead with six wins to Bologna's four, while four of those matches have ended in a draw. 

After winning the Supercoppa Italiana, Milan could also win two trophies in a single season for the first time since 2007-08, when they emerged victorious the Super Cup and Club World Cup. 

They come into the encounter having won four consecutive matches across all competitions for the first time this season.

The last time Milan achieved at least four straight victories was between March and April 2024 (run of seven), and Conceicao is aiming to continue that momentum. 

For the 50-year-old, Rome's Stadio Olimpico is familiar territory, having made 103 appearances across all competitions for Lazio during his playing career. 

"This stadium has surely given me satisfaction as a player, but it's the past," Conceicao said. 

"Tomorrow, we'll need to be at our best against a team that fights every duel like it was the last one."

Having beaten Bologna in the dress rehearsal for this week's final, Conceicao kept his cards close to his chest on who would feature in his starting line-up. 

"I’m not saying it, I haven’t even told them (the players)," he said. 

"They don't know," Conceicao added, revealing that striker Rafael Leao and midfielder Youssouf Fofana will both be involved after missing Friday's win.

"Positive results improve the atmosphere. I'm aware I have a healthy group."