AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao could not contain his joy after seeing his side come from two goals down to beat Inter and lift the Supercoppa Italiana.
In truth, after 50 minutes it looked like being another disappointment for Milan out in the Middle East as Mehdi Taremi had just put Inter 2-0 up after Lautaro Martinez’s opener right on the stroke of half-time.
However, the Rossoneri found themselves a goal down against Juventus on Friday in the semi-final and came back, so they knew not to give up. Theo Hernandez scored a free-kick to quickly halve the deficit, then Christian Pulisic fired in a precision shot to equalise.
Just as it looked like the game was heading for penalty kicks, there was one final bit of drama. In the third minute of five added, a brilliant through ball from Pulisic found Leao, who hit the ball into the ground to square for Abraham and the tap-in sparked rapturous scenes.
After the game Conceicao spoke to SportMediaset to share his feelings after capturing trophy number one in just his second game, with MilanNews relaying his comments.
You have managed wins against Juve and Inter in a few days, how did you do it?
“I am very happy for the players, it wasn’t easy. The atmosphere wasn’t at its best. We had a few days to work on details and small things that were important to me in these two matches.
“We were facing two top-level teams. The credit goes to the players who absorbed everything we gave. There were mistakes because the opponent has quality, there are things to improve, there is a lot of work to do.
“They are aware of this, we can do a great job in these 4 months to get to the top places, where Milan should be, not in seventh place like now. Now we have celebrated, from tomorrow we will think about Cagliari.”
You turned it around again after half-time, what did you say to the team?
“In the end there were two or three things on the defensive level, it was the attacking phase that needed to be lateral. It was a big blow to concede the two goals. In the second half a poor reading of the space in behind put us 2-0 down.
“But this means that the team has character, it managed to win two games against great teams. At half time a coach has to manage and change things, it’s part of my job and that’s why they pay me.”
Today the team pressed well, the defence took that step forward when the midfield advanced…
“Exactly. Well done, if we want to be compact all the departments are important and there must be little distance between them. I know that the defenders we have, and also the midfielders, can still do better.
“They must have courage. If we want to return to being the great Milan we need this desire, this courage. For me it is important, and the articulation of the defensive line is not easy. But they are intelligent, they understand what we want despite the short time.
“Then it is not easy for the intensity, we have not had 5-6 clear days to work. Congratulations to them, they understood what we had to do to win.”
How will you handle Leao?
“Leao is a phenomenon. I have known him for a long time, Portuguese for me. He is relaxed, I am tense (smiles). He has to learn 2-3 things and he can be the best in the world.
“He has everything, I am not saying this to be nice, he has a lot of quality and if he puts it at the service of the team he will be even stronger. In my opinion at the end of the season he will be one of the best in the world, I have no doubts.”
Have you guys noted how Conceição subs well? He really reads the game and knows what to do to fix what is not going well. And there is no doubt that he is able to make these players work hard for the team.
He got into a mess of a squad, with unhappy players, injury crisis, high fever of 39 degrees for himself, Gabbia and Jimenez, couldn’t count on Rafa for one and a half games, had one week of work with the team, and produced a trophy, defeating our two biggest rivals while coming from behind. How did he achieve it?
Well, we know how: he is a winner. He got 11 trophies with Porto in 7 seasons; more than one and a half per season. This guy is tactically aware, insightful, has grinta, has a strong personality; he seems to be the man we needed and wanted.
What a season we could be having if our silly managers had hired Conceição in the summer instead of the mediocre Fonseca!!!
Anyway, we got a trophy, but we’re so behind in domestic points from the failures of the Fonseca era, that not even a good coach like Conceição can perform a miracle for the out-of-reach Scudetto, but I’m a lot more optimistic about making 4th place and getting a Champions League spot which seamed also lost under Fonseca.
For those saying that the Supercoppa Italiana is a meaningless trophy, the way this one came about, I don’t think we can call it meaningless.
Look at this:
We got as adversaries our two biggest rivals. Both are doing better domestically than we are. One of them, Juve, had not lost a single game to an Italian team until they faced us in the semifinal. They scored first, and we came from behind and beat them 2-1; very satisfying. Then our biggest rivals, a well-oiled machine that completely overwhelmed an otherwise good Atalanta team in the other semi, working with the same coach and mostly the same players for years, goes up 2-0, and we go and turn it around 3-2.
Does it get any better than that, in terms of a 4-day spam from Friday to Monday, fighting our two biggest rivals for a trophy? I wouldn’t call it meaningless.
Yes, the Supercoppa Italiana is USUALLY a meaningless trophy, but this time it wasn’t. Both semifinals and the final were very interesting games, and the final was arguably the best game of the season featuring two Italian teams.
And to achieve this victory within the first weak of a new coach is nothing short of remarkable.
Enjoy, Milanisti! This was extraordinary and deserves our full joy, regardless of it being a more minor trophy.
Sure, winning a Scudetto is a way more important achievement, but this spectacular start of the Conceição era allows us to dream that another Scudetto, while it won’t happen this season, is not too far away.
An excellent analysis.
Well done
You hit every point. They should publish this.
Well the cash reward of 13.5Million for Milan the trophy is not ordinary.
Should be more than the cash reward for winning the F.A Cup.
The super cup is a fantastic achievement that signifies the return of the will to win by Milan.
Let us not take it for granted.
Stop saying it is meaningless. Albeit, why do players cry and or rejoice when lost or won. The trophy is counted and that makes it all number fifty on our total trophies on cabinet with some tens of dollars. One more to go in Saudi. Forza Milan… The only Milan Club
Great analysis my friend, for once to see someone who actually has a good understanding and is able to articulate. Thank You for taking the time to share.
Yes we have great players and Yes with these players and strategy we can climb back to where we belong.
Forza Milan!
I recall his Porto in Champions League . It was really well-organized, strong team.So here we have prerequisites why he may be successful here
💯 spot on Man
Milan for life 😌🖤♥️
Love what he sad about Leao.
Well without doubt he is actually right, if only he can bring out that hunger from leao
They are both name sake tho😁😏
(Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão)
We will fight for scudeto now. At the end we will be 1st or 2nd. I wrote for months many things and always have right.
He showed motta and inzaghi there is a new sherif in town. What a coach!! he gonna give us some good games in the chl this with this hunger and determination to win.
What a goat.
He literally got to Saudi Arabia a few days ago.
He beats Juve and Inter, lifting a trophy in the process.
He hasn’t even trained the team at home.
Motta who?
Another great thing is that we won our 50th trophy, in the season of our 125th anniversary. Minor trophy or not, we needed one, to mark the occasion.
————-
It’s interesting how a lot of fans kept complaining of the players. While Fonseca was in a war against Rafa and Theo, a lot of people here thought he was right and the players were wrong. They wanted Rafa and Theo sold. Abraham and Tomori also misbehaved. Musah complained that the coach made him confused.
Me, I said many times, while Theo’s and Rafa’s attitudes (and Abraham’s, and Tomori’s, etc.) were less than professional and actually regretful, the MAIN problem was Fonseca himself. The players didn’t believe in him, didn’t respect him, and didn’t like him. He kept publicly throwing the players under the bus, which is never good for morale and trust. Unsurprisingly, the players reacted badly and misbehaved. That’s not to excuse their lack of professionalism, but it’s a way to understand what was going on. These players are human beings. Treat them poorly, and they WILL behave poorly.
I said many times, just look at Napoli under Spalletti, under Garcia, and then again under Conte. Basically the same players with a couple of changes, went from being excellent, to being a disaster, to being excellent again. That is, the SAME players, excellent under two good coaches, were a disaster under a bad coach.
I kept saying, rather than selling Theo and Rafa, let’s fire Fonseca. Posters here bashed me for my opinion on this and kept blaming the plyers. They called me a fanboy of the players and said the coach was right. Yeah, sure.
OK, so, finally we did fire Fonseca, and hired a MUCH better coach. And then, the SAME players suddenly started showing grinta, desire, commitment, energy, optimism, and they weren’t impressed by falling behind on the scoreboard, kept fighting, and beat both our biggest rivals, coming from behind, to win a trophy.
Unsurprisingly, the coach had declared that he isn’t a nice guy, he isn’t here to make friends, he is here to win, so he can get angry at players, but if a player deserves criticism, he said, it’s best handled behind closed doors. He kept saying that we have a great group of players and all that they needed was more hunger and more trust. He said, desire to win is more important than tactics (despite obviously being a good tactician, himself).
Suddenly the players started playing like a team. In their post-game conferences, several players praised Conceição’s attitude and his infectious motivation.
So, no. We didn’t need to sell players. What we needed, was to get rid of a mediocre loser as head coach, and to hire a winner to replace him, like I repeatedly said. Done, and everything changed. Unsurprisingly.
Again, it’s unclear if this very positive coaching change will be enough to save our season. By saving it, I mean getting to top 4. That will be enough, given the size of the mess and of the disaster we were experiencing. Even with an obviously great coach like Conceição, it can still be too little, too late, and maybe we will fall short of the top 4. But at least, now we have a fighting change, and even if the mister can’t save this season given how late into it he was hired, I’m confident that we will do a lot better under him, next season, when he will have a full pre-season and a full season to work with the players and shape the team to his liking.
Go Conceição! Great start!
Well said @Luigi
Except for the Redbird Lovers – we all knew Fonseca was a trash hire and we were easily proven right.
The same fools that screamed to sell Theo, Leao, Thiaw, etc….are the same fools that come on here and support Cardinale and how much $$ he makes FOR HIMSELF and his INVESTORS rather than the club itself
Positive thoughts for Concecaio – but he will need more support from Ownership to buy players in January he needs to be successful. We will see if they do to help save the season – with a 4th place finish. Fingers crossed
But can he do it on a Sunny night in Cagliari?
What if he can’t… Will you throw stones at him ?
He is going to beat cagliari let wait an see my bro
Sérgio Conceição is an excellent coach. I wanted him to be hired last summer. He has won 11 trophies with Porto in 7 seasons. He also did a great job with Nantes & Braga. I believe he will get AC Milan to Top 4 finish in Serie A, quarterfinals in Champions League and possibly win the Italian Cup. We have defeated Inter twice this season. We have 3 more games to play against Inter: One in Serie A and the two-legged semifinal in Coppa Italia. We can defeat them 5 times in a single season.
Players continue to praise Conceição. They do seem to love him, unlike Fonseca.
Davide Calabria ha commentato così: “Portare a casa la coppa ti dà questa spinta in più per poter fare bene. Conceicao è un grande allenatore, ha fatto subito capire la sua voglia di fare, la volontà, la grinta, cose fondamentali per poter vincere queste coppe”
Rafa Leao ha detto: “Partita di squadra, abbiamo fatto tutti un grande lavoro, siamo contentissimi. Quando è arrivato il mister ci ha portato un’altra energia come ho detto ieri. Abbiamo sentito assolutamente un cambiamento”
What a breath of fresh air compared to the trash that was Fonseca – the “genius” hire from management
“At half time a coach has to manage and change things, it’s part of my job and that’s why they pay me.”
THIS is what we wanna hear. No excuses just SOLUTIONS. that is what a good coach does – figures out ways to ADAPT.
“ Leao is a phenomenon. I have known him for a long time, Portuguese for me. He is relaxed, I am tense (smiles). He has to learn 2-3 things and he can be the best in the world.
“He has everything, I am not saying this to be nice, he has a lot of quality and if he puts it at the service of the team he will be even stronger. In my opinion at the end of the season he will be one of the best in the world, I have no doubts.”
THIS is what we also want to hear. A coach that doesn’t throw his players under the bus but rather recognizes their talent and is willing to get the best out of them.
Keep it up Sergio – finally a coach that understands
NOW it is up to Redbird to open up the pocket books ($$$) and spend some $$ in January to SUPPORT him. We now NEED another STRIKER – since he primarily plays a 2 striker system and we cannot have Carmada or Jovic (is he still alive??) as the backups. So go spend the $$ and get another one at least. And pls for the love of God (no, not you Zlatan) get a proper RB and stop playing that trash Emerson.
I agree that Conceicao is an exceptional coach – an intelligent tactician, inspiring motivator, and astute in-game manager who isn’t afraid to try different things when his team falls behind or is otherwise in need of a new approach during a match. He knows how to roll the dice and to do it to great effect.
He performed a miracle to win the Supercoppa. But there’s a significant difference between a 4-team cup tournament held over a period of a few days in secluded Saudi Arabia, and the grueling humdrum of playing weekly in Serie A in Italy over a period of many months. Even with the mediocre Fonseca in charge, AC MiIan rose to the occasion and beat Real Madrid away from home in the Champions League. Where Fonseca fell short was in games in which his team was up against average opponents in Serie A.
That’s why I think Conceicao faces perhaps an even bigger test when AC Milan play Cagliari in Sardinia on the weekend. Cagliari are precisely the sort of unglamorous, middling opponent against whom the Rossoneri have struggled this season. The lads must beat Cagliari if they want their triumph in Riyadh to mark a turning point in their 2024/25 campaign.