Sergio Conceicao made a winning start to life as AC Milan head coach, and after the win over Juventus he gave quite an emotive post-match interview.
Milan began the Conceicao era in the best way, coming from behind against Juve to seal a spot in the Supercoppa Italiana final. Kenan Yildiz got the opener in the first half, and after 60 minutes the Rossoneri had not even mustered a shot on target.
However, the game turned on its head inside five second-half minutes. Christian Pulisic was brought down in the box by Manuel Locatelli and converted the penalty to equalise, then substitute Yunus Musah had a cross diverted into the Juve net by Federico Gatti.
The result means that Milan will face their city rivals Inter in the final on Monday night at the same stadium, hoping to get revenge for the 3-0 defeat a couple of years ago.
Conceiçao spoke to Mediaset at the end of the victory to give his thoughts, while still visibly battling a fever. His comments were relayed by MilanNews, and we have translated below.
You decided to get the team in a huddle at full-time…
“You need passion in life. Football is passion, emotion. These are beautiful moments. They deserved it for the second half they played, they deserved to be in the final.
“In the first half I saw a Milan like a few weeks ago, with many doubts in the players. Defensively, in pressing, with the ball, slow in movement. We changed at half-time, we talked, we looked each other in the eyes.
“They had to understand what to do to win this match. They had to do what we had prepared, then if we lost 2-3 to 0 it was my fault. But we haven’t won anything yet. Now we have to rest, we will have one less day of rest and this can be important.”
Could Leao recover?
“Let’s see. Today he did a workout that was close to what is needed from a physical point of view to get closer to working with the team. I don’t think he will be there tomorrow, let’s see the day after tomorrow.”
Have you seen your son?
“He was calm, he was happy for me but also sad. It’s part of life.”
Is there a possibility, in your mind, of playing with two strikers?
“Yes. Of course, yes. We did it in the second half. Alvaro often comes to support, our wingers, Jimenez and Pulisic, didn’t do what I wanted in terms of getting in behind and we were almost non-existent in terms of attack.
“I played with a 4-4-2 for years, but we had prepared something different that we didn’t do in the first half. However, yes, in the future there will be the possibility of playing with two references up front.”
Have your struck a chord with the players the last few days?
“I can tell you that after the first 45 minutes in the locker room I didn’t give kisses to the players. I got a little angry, they weren’t doing what we prepared and that makes me a little angry.
“I’m living this moment with a humble group, a good group. Sometimes it lacks a little of that positive ruthlessness to get to that little something extra, but with time we’ll do it. The players need a nice word and also a few blows.
“I’m not a very nice person, I don’t like giving hugs. I get angry more often than the opposite. The important thing for them is to work well and have a lot of positive energy.
“It’s a quality group, I’m very happy with the group because they accepted the message and a coach who doesn’t smile a lot. And that makes me happy, because I’m not here to make friends but to win. That’s the important thing.”
What did you say to the team at half-time?
“I’m sorry, what I said in the locker room stays there (smiles).”
Smart one
“I’m not a very nice person, I don’t like giving hugs. I get angry more often than the opposite. ”
“And that makes me happy, because I’m not here to make friends but to win. That’s the important thing.”
Love it.
But he needs to be careful, some of the players don’t like when someone is telling them the truth and is being mean.
Also,
“I can tell you that after the first 45 minutes in the locker room I didn’t give kisses to the players. I got a little angry, they weren’t doing what we prepared and that makes me a little angry.”
“our wingers, Jimenez and Pulisic, didn’t do what I wanted in terms of getting in behind and we were almost non-existent in terms of attack.”
I remember when Fonseca was saying that players are not following instructions and he was attacked by the cupcakes of our fanbase for saying it publicly. Conceicao after the 1st game is doing the same thing, and even naming players.
Good on Sergio. Enough babying.
It is big difference when you say it after winning or after losing. Players are human, they are not machines and managers are not playing FIFA or PlayStation. I will not judge what is the best method, but if the players didnt accept the manager public criticism and benching and punishment system. Then it is the manager fault. The manager should know how to deal with superstars, which fonseca doesnt know
Milan doesn’t have any superstars so what does Fonseca’s handling of superstars has to do with the conversation.
Give up your negativity. Of course we have superstars. These are players in the utmost top class as evidenced by winning a scudetto three years ago and also playing in national teams all around the world.
Yes they are sometimes bad and having bad form. But that doesn’t take away from their actual quality.
The difference probably are that Jimenez and Puli couldn’t or more precisely are not yet accustomed to the moves, while with Fonseca players were kind of refusing to follow the instructions. Still nothing to blame Fonseca for regarding that. He could only keep keeping them out until they stop undermining him. I was on his side against the rebels. But overall he wasn’t good and had to go
Nice! 🤣
Sounds like me, f’ losing, towards end looks like we were trying too hard not to lose (got lucky), instead of playing to win. Keep the pedal on the gas. We got lucky on #2 but I know the harder you play the luckier you get. Hope he plays Theo “the Gazzelle” like Deschamps does.
Remember there are two teams on the pitch. Momentum shifts during games based on the score. When both teams are quite equal as we could see up until the first goal. With juventus maybe even having the upper hand. It’s not easy to just keep attacking when you have the lead because in that delicate phase teams that are trailing tends to become more desperate and change their play to try to get back. As was evident yesterday. We go a couple of counter attacks anyway that could have resulted. To put up a defensive wall was definately a good call when we had the lead that late against a Juventus that was without their best players and also had no natural striker left on the pitch.
Also don’t forget that this Juventus has only lost once under Motta. They have trailed many times late in games and been able to equalize. That we were able to withstand them without letting them get back is a sign of strength that shouldn’t be ignored.
Another good angle 👍
“the harder you play the luckier you get”
This.
“I’m not here to make friends but to win”
That’s the right attitude! Well done, mister!
Sounds a bit like capello.
He just needs to infect the team with his desire to win and magic might happen
To be honest if someone had told me Fonseca had taken over again in the first half I’d have believed them. So good to finally have a coach who isn’t going to put up with this bs anymore. His subs were spot on too. Watching Royal go off for the first time in a Milan shirt almost made me weep with happiness.
Haha so true. Spurs laughing all the way to the bank that they sold us a dud.
I wonder if there’s no (affordable) RB in Jan mercato, once our injuries subside, whether Conceicao will consider starting Jimenez as RB given our other options are ineffective
But nice to start off on a winning foot. Looking forward to see how we handle Sh!nternazionale in a few days.
Forza Milan
Did it occur to you that Royal was coming off for fresh legs, not because of form? Nothing to see here yet.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Maybe Pioli and Fonseca were too nice; maybe Sergio with his character can push the lazy players to learn and do better. He seems to be the kind of coach who knows how to deal with difficult players.
Now to you and your team son
Exactly 👍
“I’m sorry, what I said in the locker room stays there (smiles).”
Some people should take note of this.
His pacing on the touchline is how I feel when I’m watching the game .. locked in and intense. I don’t understand how one cannot be. I really hope he does well with the team!
All player’s will be more better aggressive coach and conceicao knows how to do both sides.
Pioli is more on soft side, so as Ancellotti but that doesn’t take away their brilliance in managing player’s.
Every coach have their own style, please stop the sh!t talk, it’s useless.
Didnt pur dear great ancelotii once said “ i would beat him every day” on leao?
What a man! His little anger in the locker room shows in this game. This milan team needs carrots 🥕 and sticks approach to bring them to play and am glad conciecao has brought that to fore. Forza milan
@hachim it’s people like you that spoils a coach rhythm, you mean he needs to come down to the level of the so called superstars to pet and cuddle them? 🙄
God help us
Sounds a little like Sir Alex back in the day. He could be calm, but wasn’t afraid to give the players a kick in the ass
The problem with Fonseca, was the fact that he made it personal. Sergio challenged the team. He did not become personal. Fonseca sounded more like it is not his fault but the players’ after games. Sergio speaks on issues like a coach, not a school teacher who pulls out a stick and send people to the bench for every issue.
Conceicao is the right man. We are winning the trophy #ForzaMilan