AC Milan fought back from a perilous situation and managed to come out on top with a 3-2 win against Lecce, and Sergio Conceicao has explained how it came to be.
Yesterday, in many ways, reflects an ideal situation of how everyone would like this season to go from here on out.
The season began with a few huge wins dotted about, but they were overruled by poor performances – in this instance, having a goal ruled out for offside, and then conceding. Then, Milan scored again, but again it was ruled out.
It can be argued that the second goal mirrors the situation of the present, where everything, that couldn’t imaginably get worse, does. However, the Rossoneri fought back and managed to end the game, and in this ideal picture, the season, in a respectable, if not good way.
Of course, beating Lecce by a one goal margin after being two goals down only reinforces the reasons why the club are in this position, and why there probably won’t be a last period phoenix situation.
After the win against Lecce, Conceicao analysed the situation in a press conference, and Milan Press have relayed his words.
“Two goals were disallowed for offside, there is nothing to be done. We worked during the week on some of Lecce’s weaknesses and some of their strengths.
“In the moment of a mistake, we got a goal on what we had prepared at the level of space between the lines where we had always found Pulisic and Musah as free men to accelerate over the opponent’s defensive line, we really created problems for Lecce, but we didn’t score.
“We were down and we started the second half not very well, even conceding the second goal. In the difficult moment, character also came out, the changes gave something to the team and bravo to the boys who believed in it until the end.
“This team can win and lose against anyone: do the regrets increase or the desire to work from here to the end? Desire to work because what has been said is true. We have to be a bit more balanced in terms of the dynamics of the game, if not every time the opponent restarts, it creates problems and a big team cannot afford this.
“It’s a job we’re doing and this week was important, we worked on many small things we didn’t have time to work on because I never had a day with the whole group, having had games every three days until last week. And I’m not happy to be out of the Champions League.
“It’s part of the team’s evolution.
Tactical changes…
“We played with three midfielders where we had two, Reijnders and Musah, who had to go for their two midfielders. They like to play with the 4-4-2 and played more direct, Bondo was important in front of the defence to give security, also on second balls. We were more compact as a team in my opinion.”
“Leao is a great player. Quality players for me must always start the game, but there’s work to be done and sometimes for one reason or another he doesn’t start. Even if he starts from the bench, he always wants to give his best for the team and I like that even more than when he makes assists or scores goals.”
Is stamina Leao’s main issue? Always amazing when he comes in the 2nd half… weird pattern ngl
Theo is a mystery this season. I guess when opponent is not that great also helps.
4-3-3 I think is the way to go… Tiji-Bondo-Fofana, and pray Bondo doesn’t injure himself until the end of the season
Exactly, 4-3-3 way to go. Been saying this for the longest time.
Bondo-Fofana-Musah would be more ideal.
Tiji can battle with Felix for the AM position.
Milan look at farioli from ajax he is the most italian coach at the moment, or ten hag he is free and available after june
If that first goal was not disallowed we’d be talking about a much much different result. The process was beautiful, reminding of our good ol’ Scudetto Milan and how direct Porto usually play under Sergio.
Of course many sides of the game should be fixed but I believe we should give Sergio more time.