AC Milan’s already slim hopes of a European spot to another big dent with a defeat to Atalanta, and Sergio Conceicao was not happy.
A lot of the build-up to the game was dominated by the talk of using a three-man defence again, something that was deployed in the 4-0 win over Udinese in the last round.
For the first time since his arrival, Conceicao named an unchanged starting line-up for consecutive league games, which in turn meant that he stuck with the three central defenders.
In Udine it was not at the expense of being dangerous at the other end, however they failed to score against Atalanta. Ederson got the only goal, against the run of play just after the hour mark.
Conceicao spoke to DAZN after the full-time whistle to give his thoughts after yet another difficult evening for his side, with MilanNews transcribing them.
How do you feel the game went?
“The first half was balanced; we were a little deeper than we had asked for and prepared, but they didn’t create any chances. We finished the first half well, but then, when it came to putting the players in front of the goalkeeper, we didn’t manage to do it and we paid for it.
“Like in the second half. And they, at the first opportunity, scored; we even talked about the crosses to the far post: it’s one of their characteristics. But that’s how it went.”
Why did you then switch to a four-man defence?
“It’s not that I didn’t like it, but to try to equalise.”
Did the players have the derby in mind?
“For me the derby didn’t stop us: the most important match is the one that is played. Usually whoever comes in gives us a little more, but I also put Sottil in a position that wasn’t his. We lacked the aggression that we normally have.”
Does the Coppa Italia also play a role in your future?
“My future (laughs)! Every day since Milan-Cagliari they talk about who comes to Milan, for me it’s fine, but for the group that I work with… They see all the news and there is no stability. We have to work today to try to be better tomorrow.
“There’s no respect either, that’s what I feel. The future doesn’t depend on anything, we have to prepare for the match against Inter to reach the final. Winning two trophies at Milan in the same year hasn’t happened for a long time and it’s strange for a historic club like Milan .”
One of the worst coaches we have in our whole history
I swear bro dis coach is really a bad coach with all dis bad play and defeat dis idiot supposed to be sack Portugal coach is very bad just take a look out utd.
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He’s so sure about winning the coppa Italia. The funny thing is we might just manage to win against Inter and get to the final yet lose against Bologna. That’s how bad of a tactician the coach is. Most of the players have given up already. Let’s just wait to see how things pans out in the summer.
Respect is earned and practically no one has earned it this season in fact I’d go as far to say that the club, the overpaid players and the management and ownership has been shown far to much leeway this season whether it was under Fonseca or under Conceicao and I generally has always had a lot of patience for the club, coaches and players over the years.
At this point I cant even really care any longer if there happens an entire wipeout within this squad and club.
He really thinks his time at Porto counts for more than everyone in Italy does.
They weren’t terrible tonight but he failed in the coaching battle.
58 mins 0 all but Milan are looking the better team in the second half.
Gasparini makes a triple change on 59 minutes.
3 mins later Atalanta make their best move of the game and catch us out.
1 nil.
Conceicao picks the right formation and starting line up. But even after going behind on 62 mins, makes no changes until the 75th minute.
What are the changes?
Striker swap like for like, Sottil forced out of position to RWB and FFS it’s Felix!
Chukwueze brought on too late in the next round of subs and an Gimenez that looks still injured and with zero confidence.
I agree with you.
Switching 442, and making all those substitutions leaving Felix and Gimenez who was clearly unfit instead of deploying the best striking partnership at your disposal (Jovic & Abraham together).
I expected to see Abraham alongside jovic after conceding plus Leao & pulisic came off the pitch.
Playing an unfit gimenez and an unconvincing Felix is unacceptable.
Someone is blackmailing the coach to play Felix and he only threw in Gimenez to make it seem less awkward. Mr Sergio, must Felix play?
Gimenez is injured & has flopped (try again next season) and Felix is an irredeemable flop.
We could argue with him on some aspects, but the truth is most of the problems are not of his making, for the sake of the club and team we need stability, what he said is very right, the press have contributed alot in the clubs issues this season, they have written alot of inaccuracies and have continued to speak ill of the coach and have unsettled him with this false reporting, people like Arrigo Sacchi have been bringing up the names of Coaches daily, I wonder if the Coach was Italian, would they have behaved this way.
Too many issue like next summer Milan ready for conte, de Zerbi with his possession football 80% but has no output, italiano, tare bla bla bla. But they are only media bluff. Ac Milan are legit things for media eating.
But for me, maybe it’s time to stay with conceicao. Against Atalanta they aren’t inferior again and played well. If Milan win coppa Italia, Give him proper players and sporting director with the same idea.
Milan played well? Maybe defensively. But offensively we had nothing. Atalanta were very compact snd so much more aggressive in their pressing. It was as if they were the home team. We created almost nothing. Most of all the players didn’t seem to care. I think that is the most damning part. There was no desperation or desire after conceding today. As if they had given up already. I don’t get why other than that they were waiting for the next game. So now we definately need to win that game. Which will be incredibly hard.
“Against Atalanta they aren’t inferior again and played well. ”
You didn’t actually watch the match now did you? Milan had one attack in the 1st half and was in the ropes for at least 60 minutes of the match. Milan created nothing and lost the ball in less than 10 seconds each time they got it. It was an absolutely disgraceful performance – especially in the 1st half. They should have been booed off the pitch.
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Respect in this game is earned and not a single player or coach or management deserves it? Conceicao what have you done o deserve respect? Won the super coppa? Big deal. You’ve somehow been a downgrade since taking over from fonseca. Our first half performances are awful, defence can’t keep a clean sheet. The midfield is the worst midfield I’ve seen in years. At least fonseca had reijnders and fofana as our two best players. So no, you don’t deserve any praise and maybe it’s a valuable lesson to not take unproven coaches here at milan because your on the chopping block right away. At least the good thing that can come out of this season hopefully is no more mediocre coaches, especially ones that aren’t Italian. And to bring some Italian players in. What a horrible season.
We need lookman guler stiller and tchouameni if possible luca modric
Why everyone is bitching around Sergio in this comment?
Which coach can do a sh*t with this management and squad?
Even ancelotti back to Milan now, he will only ruin his amazing CV. Haha…
The players just seem don’t care. Look with Atalanta goal, fofana just like walking in the park before ederson shot. No cover / blocking. Just feel the process bro.. Milan no more like 10-20 years ago. Milan have no more berlusconi. Milan now it’s corporate.
The painful part of all this is that the players know the coach can be sacked at anytime, so they do not have to put 100% into any game. How often have we questioned the players and their lack of necessary effort. The players have lost the drive, the blame goes to the coach for losing a game. The players know this and are content as long as the blame does not come to them. Its a vicious cycle and downward spiral the players have put the club. Milan does not deserve this.
In terms of the job you do, Mr Conceicao, respect is earned, it’s not an entitlement. It’s not all your fault, but there’s no denying that Milan this season has been an absolute car-crash. Worst season in living memory, pretty much.