(IN THE PHOTO: press conference at Milanello) 
MILANELLO – Cristian Brocchi held a press conference at Milanello on Saturday and discussed the round 33 Serie A clash with Sampdoria. The league encounter at the Marassi will be Brocchi’s first on the Milan bench having replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic earlier in the week, but the new coach's first thoughts were for Japan: 
"I want to first of all offer my condolences to the Japanese people. Seeing as we have a Japanese player in our squad, it only seemed right to do this before the press conference. I know the kind of test Sampdoria will offer. We have started to analyse them as a team, even if we are yet to go into too much detail. Ahead of the match, we will discuss them further. Our training has been geared towards and with Sunday’s opponents in mind. A change in coach has an impact on the squad and it was only to be expected that some of the players were left disappointed by the decision in the first few days. I was also close to Mihajlovic because we had a fantastic relationship. I understood therefore this initial situation. But I have since seen the players really eager to listen, work and focus. I sense a desire amongst them to achieve something important." 
On the challenges he now faces having made the step up from youth team coach to first team coach: "Working with men rather than youth players, and players with experience, is much harder. But even an adult needs to be shown confidence and needs to be taught. This is very important to me. I have spoken to nearly every member of the squad individually. With this in mind, we can lay the foundations for a process that won’t be easy, but exciting and challenging. I would be out of my mind if I thought Milan would take to the pitch on Sunday and immediately play the football I have in mind. No one can work miracles in the space of a few days and revolutionise a team that has worked with a different coach and in a different way. But I want to see us move 5% closer to how I want us to play and what I have asked the players during training. However, I want the more simplistic things I have asked to be done well. I hope they all give me signs that they are playing for something important. No player should think as an individual, but as a team. The biggest thing tomorrow is to put Milan first. I want those who start or those who come on to show me that playing for Milan means everything." 
Brocchi’s vision of how he wants the team to play has started to take shape this week, but he recognised time is needed: "There’s a good chance Bonaventura will play in behind the strikers. He has the abilities to play in that position. I have started to test out a few situations over the past few days, but as a coach I still need to get to know my players individually. It’s only normal that in the build up to the game I have a team of potential starters and non-starters. But the main thing is that those who are potentially set to start from the bench leave me feeling confident for when I need them. I have been given positive responses from those who weren’t put in the potential starting-eleven during training. I have no intention of making wholesale changes. The players need to be confident, but they should never take anything for granted. I value the group and the efforts for the team rather than an individual player. As coach, I have to focus on playing matters. As for the rest, that is for the club who will always try and do what is right and best for Milan." 
More from the coach with his closing comments on individual players: "I will ask the team to push forward, be aggressive and occupy the space in attack. I want the forwards to create space to take a shot and get into the box. I don’t want them to drop too far back when in possession. I will ask them to play in a certain way. Nowadays, you cannot expect to play with forwards that don’t track back and actively take part in the build-up play. There has to be a desire to work hard for the team. As a coach, I have always given a lot of importance to the mental aspect. Even the best players need to be strong mentally. I feel I have the right type of midfielders to play the type of football I have in mind. The midfield is the most important part of the team for developing the play and I want our play to always pass through our midfielders. I think a diamond shape midfield gives you more certainties in both attack and in defence. It’s impossible that Balotelli plays in the same manner as Kucka and vice-versa. Each player has his own style. What counts is that each player plays for the team. Balotelli has appeared determined and he has promised me that he will give everything in this end of season run-in. We hope that he demonstrates his abilities and above all shows if he really is attached to the Milan shirt. Honda will be given the chance to show what he is capable of. He can play in the wide role in a three pronged attack or behind the strikers. Honda’s attitude in training has been excellent."