Perhaps because Clemenza was closer to the Don and his family-both in terms of being more directly under the Don's supervision and being akin to an uncle to Michael, Fredo and Sonny (Clemenza was Sonny's godfather) , Clemenza would have been around the house much more while Michael was growing up. And presumably over the years Clemenza would have had his favorite associates/bodyguards/proteges who accompanied him on visits and who Michael would have recognized. Of course it could also just be Michael not realizing how the Family had grown during his time away..


The second part is just Michael not being sure what he wanted.

"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Winter is Coming

Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.