From the bits that have emerged in Sergio Conceicao’s early tenure at AC Milan, it would be fair to say that he will not be going easy on the players.

This morning’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) talks about the ‘Conceicao strategy’, adding in their headline that the squad will be subjected to ‘training in the cold and individual interviews’.

The Portuguese coach still disappointed by the home draw against Cagliari a few days ago, which came a few days after the high of the Supercoppa Italiana triumph in Saudi Arabia. Many believed that would give a jolt to the season, but the Rossoneri reverted to type with a disappointing result.

Conceicao wants to put the players against the wall and to do so he is not sparing them anything. Yesterday, the day before Como-Milan, the Portuguese coach moved training from morning to evening, in the dark and cold.

The ex-Porto coach sees it as a way to toughen up but also to get used to tonight’s climate, with the thermometer expected to be around zero for the game in Como. He has given a series of very precise rules and is also having individual discussions with all the players in the Milan squad, too.

Speaking of tonight’s game, La Gazzetta dello Sport are reporting this morning that Conceicao will make three changes to the starting line-up to try and freshen things up a bit.

AC Milan have made their offer to Manchester United to have Marcus Rashford on loan, a report claims, and now they are waiting for a response.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports this morning that the pursuit of Kyle Walker has been frozen for the time being, because the priority is to address the attack and therefore Rashford is target number one. As a reminder, Milan cannot sign two English players this month, only one.

An important call

CEO Giorgio Furlani had a conference call with his counterpart at Manchester United, Omar Berrada. During that, he explained that the Rossoneri intend to sign the Englishman until in June, paying more or less half of the net salary that remains to be paid in 2024-25, which is €7m net.

If the handshakes arrive it would be a great coup, but the operation could turn into an advantage for United too given that in recent years several players have revitalised their form at Milanello who were not going through an ideal moment in their career.

Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori show what going from Premier League outcast to starter at Milan can do, as does Olivier Giroud’s switch even if the circumstances were a bit different in that particular case.

Thus, the Red Devils could find themselves with a rejuvenated asset in the summer. It is a bit like what happened with Jadon Sancho, loaned to Borussia Dortmund and then to Chelsea (though in this case it was a loan with obligation to buy for €30m).

In short, Milan have made their move. Rashford would be happy to join Milan, United have listened to Furlani’s proposal and promised to give an answer as soon as possible. No deadline has been set, but one is expected at the latest by the weekend.

A bit of cat and mouse could be expected, because Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Barcelona and Monaco have all come forward. The possibility of a club from Saudi Arabia coming in also cannot be excluded just yet.

The crossroads

With the possibility of signing only one of Rashford and Walker because they are both English, the directors and Coinceçao agree at this moment on the need to strengthen the forward department rather than the defence.

The team create many chances, but fail to finish them. Rashford would bring with him the 138 goals he has scored for United, but also a desire to demonstrate his value for the first time away from home.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s words had hinted at the club’s approval of Rashford, and while the idea of signing Walker might be on stand-by for now, Milan want to keep alive possibility of signing a valuable full-back who would become a leader in the dressing room. And he would gladly come to Milan.

This is why the option linked to the arrival of Pep Guardiola’s captain has not completely disappeared. At this moment, however, Rashford has priority and Milan hope to receive positive news later in the week.