Fabio Capello

Capello criticises Conceicao for ‘lashing out’ at Calabria: “It is not normal”

Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images for Laureus

Fabio Capello has criticised Sergio Conceicao for the way he went after Davide Calabria at full-time after the Parma game, saying it goes against AC Milan’s style.

As a reminder, when the referee blew for full-time and the players and staff were converging on the field, Conceiçao chased Calabria who was about 20 yards away and tried to put his hands on him, clearly enraged by something.

The coaching staff and other players had to intervene to separate the pair. Rather than going to join the team who were jubilant, the coach wanted to settle a score with the right-back and it created quite an ugly scene amid the celebrations.

Various reports have come out regarding why he reacted that way, from possible anger at the full-back having attended a concert on Friday night to it being because of his stroppy response after being substituted.

Capello spoke during his weekly column for La Gazzetta dello Sport and he gave his take on all the drama that unfolded yesterday at San Siro, including after the full-time whistle.

“It was not a pretty show. During and… after the 90′. Milan won after a comeback against Parma at San Siro and ok, they are three important points to purse qualification for the next Champions League, but the bad performance before the two goals in the end and the scene between Conceiçao and Calabria after the final whistle cannot leave fans and simple observers indifferent,” he said.

“It is not normal to see a coach lash out in that way, in front of everyone, against one of his players. Of course, in football arguments – even tough ones – happen, I am the first to be aware of this, but behind closed doors in the dressing room, not in front of the cameras.

“In the post-match interviews, the two protagonists downplayed it. I, however, remain convinced that the episode is the symptom of obvious tension and, above all, excessive nervousness on the part of the coach.

“Why is Conceiçao so fired up? I believe that it all stems from the Portuguese’s difficulty in getting the team to follow him. Milan do not do what their coach asks: they do not press much when they lose the ball, they are not aggressive, they do not have the anger and competitive will to win matches.

“You will say: in seven matches with Conceiçao, however, the Rossoneri have won five. Let’s see how: on four occasions, Milan have gone behind and then turned the result around. What does that mean? That today they are a team of reaction rather than action.

“A style of play is lacking, if they don’t get a slap first, they struggle to wake up. Even yesterday, the comeback came more with impetus than quality, thanks also to the determination of a leader like Pavlovic, the real positive note of the day.

“The most gifted men – Theo and Leao – however, were no longer on the pitch. Substituted at half-time after 45 minutes, unacceptable from every point of view, starting with their attitude. On the double substitution, I’m with Conceiçao, although I know that the left chain, at least on paper, is Milan’s real strong point.

conceicao calabria spat

“I still think that the team-mates have well received the message sent by the coach: if you play superficially, I’ll take you off, whoever you are. A courageous, admirable move. But Fonseca had also done something similar and in the end it served little purpose.

“Leao has always been standoffish, I’m definitely more worried about Hernandez, who seems to play with his head elsewhere. I would add that if two coaches have the same problem, the doubt is not only about the seriousness of the issue, but also about the real possibilities of resolving it.

“What can be done? Can the club intervene in some way? It’s hard to say. The coach’s position remains. In my opinion, Conceiçao, with a strong decision like the substitution of the two stars at half-time, has gained points in the locker room.

“If, however, you then look for a fight with one of your players, then you risk ruining all the good you have sown.”

Tags AC Milan Davide Calabria Fabio Capello Sergio Conceicao

24 Comments

  1. Conceicaos’s behaviour is out of line in a club like Milan. Take it behind closed doors. That’s the professional way of dealing with it.

    At the same time, these words are coming from the man who was showing his “power” against Psycho on the England bench in a very bad way. Capello is right this time but he acted like an idiotic bully towards Psycho and since then I have lost respect for him.

  2. Capello being one of the finest coaches knows what’s at stake. It’s hard to criticize when we don’t have full information but I do like Conceicao no nonsense approach. We are fighting to keep pace for top 4 and senior players aren’t stepping up. To be fair theo & Leao been playing every 3 days so it’s hard to maintain that high level. We don’t have adequate backups for them. What was nice was seeing our youngsters getting playing time. Against inter without Fofana and Bennacer being hot & cold it’s going to be nerve racking time for us fans. Hopefully we see Milan that came back from 2 goal to beat inter for Copa Italia. Otherwise we’re going to be even further away from top 4.

  3. tf he is on about Capello did stuff like this on a regular basis

    just because it was almost 25 years ago now doesnt mean people forgot

      1. LOL. Just because tv broadcaster(s) have it doesn’t mean that the Average Joe has access to the material. Adding 1+1 isn’t that hard really…

  4. 3rd couach same two player protagonists. For me it is clear. If Leao had mentality and consistency he would be long gone to greener pastures.

    Agree, touch situation but we need to solve it. We are hurting, we may as well hurt more and fix the future

  5. “But how can any coach accept something like this?,” he continued.

    “Milan win against Como and the next day they celebrated Emerson Royal’s birthday, just two days before the match with Juventus, with guests arriving at midnight, so I doubt they went to bed early.

    “Apart from the questionable taste in their clothing… Then, two days before a crucial match, you go to a Lazza concert? That’s serious, it means there’s absolutely no sense of respect, which should be there even in Serie C and Serie D. There’s a lack of work ethic and discipline, a lack of decency.”

  6. The squad is full of bad eggs. I’ve been saying it for a while, we need a full reset. A full revolution of the squad. Not one based on names, or skill, but one base on attitude first, and then the rest. Get rid of all of the players with unprofessional or lazy attitudes, regardless of the names on the shirt and bring in players who will fight. The rest will fall into place once that’s done. THREE COACHES have all dealt with the same attitude issues from basically the same set of players. That’s a sign that it’s not the coaches, folks. Management needs to grow the balls to take care of this in the only way that it can be taken care off: those players need to leave. If Conceicao leaves in June, and the same players remain, the next coach is going to have exactly the same problems.

  7. I don’t understand where Calabria gets the arrogance to challenge the coach. He should be grateful he is playing at all. Only because of injury. He has not been good enough for this club for years now. Looking forward to seeing him playing for Verona next year. That’s the kind of club he belongs at.

    1. He should be grateful of what? Playing behind emerson?

      Whatever club he will play next year but he will find a club atleast based on his merit unlike Royal whom Fonseca and conceicao selecting in Starting XI.

      Whatever sh!t you can speak about Calabria, it applies to Milan as he came from same cmub academy.

      1. He should be grateful to be at a club like Milan and not act like the club or the coach owes him something. I’ve never seen anyone with so little talent be so arrogant. If I never see him on the pitch for Milan again , that is just fine with me.

        “Whatever club he will play next year but he will find a club atleast based on his merit unlike Royal whom Fonseca and conceicao selecting in Starting XI.”
        And I’ll ask this question again for the one millionth time, Why do you think Fonseca and Conceicao started Royal over Calabria?
        Is it because they both have some close personal connection to Royal, or is it that Calabria is just that bad? And add a poor attitude on top of his lack of ability.

  8. Capello: “symptom of obvious tension from coach”

    Ceicao under pressured to get champions league. He need someone to release his anger, this benchwarming captain calabria is good target.

    1. Capello: “symptom of obvious tension from coach”

      Ceicao under pressured to get champions league qualification. He need someone to release his anger, this benchwarming captain calabria is good target.

  9. I’m fully backing the coach on this one. Sure we’d all prefer the confrontation to happen off screen. But the players don’t do what the coach wants, they don’t act professional. A professional footballer isn’t the typical job. It requires individuals to commit themselves fully to the work and that comes with some minor sacrifices. If a person doesn’t want to make those sacrifices there are other jobs out there. Like in Calabria’s case waiting until the international break to go to a concert 😂 seems reasonable?

  10. Both were unprofessional but from what I saw Conceicao went after Calabria. That could have been handled a whole lot better by the coach. Never seen something like this in recent memory. I don’t think Sergio is that big of an upgrade to fonsey. Both trying this stick approach to the team and seems so unsuccessful. They just don’t have man management skills and its evident. They’re not ready for big time (Fonsy got sure…Sarge still has a few games to save his bum)

  11. Milan must get rid of players misbehavior towards coaches and stop depending too much on an individual rather than team work let go of Leao and Theo sign players who are willing to die for milan because Leao and Theo they can play but they do so when is in their opinion to do we can’t keep players who want to play only when feel so.

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