Fikayo Tomori urges AC Milan to show ‘right attitude’ against Feyenoord

Fikayo Tomori insists AC Milan need to have the “right attitude” if they are to overturn their first-leg deficit against Feyenoord in the Champions League play-off second leg on Tuesday.

Igor Paixao struck in the third minute in the first leg in Rotterdam which ultimately earned Feyenoord a 1-0 lead heading into the return fixture at the San Siro.

Feyenoord had an unusual build-up to last week’s fixture as head coach Brian Priske was sacked two days before and Pascal Bosschaart was put in interim charge.

Milan quickly got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Verona over the weekend and defender Tomori says the team are fired up heading into their midweek tie.

As quoted on the club website, he told a press conference: “We need to take to the pitch with the right attitude.

“The first leg didn’t go to plan, but we know what we have to do to win and progress tomorrow. We’re ready and fired up.

“We play every match with the aim of keeping a clean sheet. It’ll be important not to concede tomorrow, but, if it were to happen, we can’t afford to lose focus. Instead, we’ll need to keep playing like we know how and believing in what we’re doing.

“We discussed things immediately after the first leg, and now we need to understand what we did wrong and what we need to improve, and this involves revisiting the first fixture.

“However, it’s just as important to look at ourselves and focus on the aspects that we can improve.”

AC Milan will be relying on the experience of 2022-23 Champions League winner Kyle Walker, who signed on loan from Manchester City in January, to try and help them get through to the last 16.

The 34-year-old has played five times for his new club and Tomori admitted he has already brought a lot of qualities to the team.

He added: “Kyle and I talk a lot. He’s brought a sense of calm and experience, and the entire team has benefited from this.

“We’re happy to have him with us because everyone listens when he talks. He’s making strides forward thanks to the coach’s instructions, but he’s done some great work to help the team grow.”

Manager Sergio Conceicao stormed out of the press conference following their defeat at Feyenoord last week and was not present ahead of this match as he was travelling back from Portugal.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is an adviser at the San Siro, stepped in to take the pre-match media duties.

He said: “The team need to be focused, aggressive and more clinical compared to the match in Rotterdam.

“The players have to take to the pitch as if it were a final. It doesn’t matter how you play, the important thing is to win. We absolutely need a result if we’re to go through. Great teamwork will be required.”