The Coppa Italia has become AC Milan’s last resort at the end of a miserable season, and the month of April has not even ended yet.
Calciomercato.com confirm that barring any big surprises Sergio Conceicao will leave at the end of the season, but they also ask a question: what is the difference between the Portuguese coach and his compatriot and predecessor Paulo Fonseca?
Fonseca’s stint
To analyse how the two respective paths went, we must take into consideration that Fonseca took charge of 24 games across three competitions, while Conceicao also had the chance to coach in the Supercoppa Italiana which he won.
The current coach of Lyon won 12 (exactly 50%) of his games with six draws and six losses. It produced an overall points per game average of 1.75, with 42 total points obtained out of the 72 available. Fonseca’s Milan scored 44 times, conceding 27 goals in all competitions.
At the time of his dismissal, the coach left behind a team that were eighth in Serie A, but which beat Inter in the derby after six consecutive losses to the Nerazzurri, while they also won 3-1 against Real Madrid and were one step away from directly qualifying for the Champions League round of 16.
Conceicao’s tenure
Conceicao arrived at Milan at the end of December and right away he entered the history books, winning a trophy (the Super Cup) in his second match in charge, the 50th major honour in the 125th year.
It was an excellent start for the Portuguese, but things went badly from there. The Coppa Italia provides another chance to win a trophy but the Diavolo are ninth in the league and miles away from the top four, while they were dumped out of Europe by Feyenoord in the play-off round.
The numbers show that Conceicao since arriving has won 11 matches, drawn five and lost eight, conceding 30 goals and scoring 37. The Average? 1.58 points per match, inferior to Fonseca.
Further comparison
The aforementioned numbers show the reality reality: in the same number of games, the statistics of Conceicao’s Milan are lower than those of the team with Fonseca at the helm.
There is actually other data that reinforce this thesis: Milan have had fewer successful dribbles (140 against 157), less shots on goal (83 to 92) and have lost possession more (1684 to 1781).
In essence, it is a team that creates less and has seen its production and attacking danger decrease. Furthermore, there is another to bring under the magnifying glass: Milan suffers from a real taboo in direct clashes.
Fonseca, in seven games against sides higher in the table, won one, drew three and lost three, with seven goals scored and 10 conceded, gaining six points at an average of 0.86 per match.
Conceicao, on the other hand – with two big matches against Bologna and Roma still to play – has not won any head-to-head clashes, drawing two and losing on five occasions, with four goals scored and 10 conceded. The result? Two points obtained from 21, at an average of 0.29 per match.
Also, Fonseca had a (far from ideal but still) pre-season preparation and was involved in the squad building since the start of the summer. This allowed him to make some wrong decisions together with the management. With him the team started a new project, but still he had a squad that finished a ‘mediocre’ season (according to the fans mostly) at second place in the table and managed to leave us in the battle for 4th place at best as early as December.
Conceicao, on the other hand, received some new players, probably agreed with him (though he admitted his focus was not on transfers by mid January), but he joined the team in the busiest month of the year. He didn’t have a team with ambitions for the league, but a group of confused players that had to take in yet another change in the management, required style of play, coach instructions and so on.
Both had issues with players, though I would point out this stopped really quick with Conceicao, once the transfer market closed. Fonseca lost ground early on and remained so until the end. Probably those issues were hyperbolized by the media in both cases, but still we seem to have short-term memory.
Both coaches would have provided better results if they had a full season. Fonseca is out so no point in guessing how he would do, but Conceicao for me is still a better choice for next season than what we hear so far. The main issue we have under him this season and this is out of his control is the players’ mentality of sore losers. Once the table is reset things will change for the good.
I disagree. Conceicao’s side just doesn’t pass the eye test. They play worse than Fonseca’s team. You can see it. Re-read the article. The stats also prove it. No pre-season? That might be an excuse in September or October, but Conceicao has been in charge since January. January, February, March, all full of games. That’s his preseason. So if in April we’re still playing “pass the ball to Leao” the implications is a coach without ideas. And what happened to Pulisic? In the first half of the season he’s our best player by a mile, and now he’s almost invisible. Sorry, no, Conceicao isn’t it.
I agree, Conceicao does seem to have better management of the locker room but Fonseca tactics were superior. At the end of the day both coaches were set up to fail (one by the media/fans and the other by the management). I do however put the majority of the blame on the players however. These guys lack composure and movement, their touch is often sloppy and the goals they concede are soft. Worse in possession they spend large chucks of the game standing around watching. Lastly why is Bondo sitting on the bench. The dude has been the 3rd best midfielder all season and is definitely capable of contributing especially when compared to a tired Fofana. Conceicao may not have had time to understand all his players but jeeze. Lastly if Milan drop out of the cup, they ought to let Conceicao go. Bring in Abate as a caretaker and get the youngsters out on the field. Hire a SD who is compatible with Moncada in terms of scouting and a coach who’s compatible with the SD.
Fact!
agree… with Sergio its more interesting view while we attack but it worse while defending. Fonseca good at ball playing and posession only because his Milan has so many back passes to Def and GK.. So i prefer Sergio to stay unless we get Carlo Ancelotti or Conte.
All of these issues that are being had mostly point to management and the players in my opinion. Look at the situation at Man Utd for example. The amount of mistakes being made both in attack and in defensive phases aren’t things that Amorim has coached into these players. The same can be said for Milan players where they just have a mind of their own and you can clearly see it in the managers faces during play at times. Players need to be offloaded and replaced in boatloads before positive changes are to be seen
Its back to the management.
If they still trust to Conceicao, then give him full support, and authority to bring players he needed.
And if they want new coach, its same. They must full support and listen to buy players as the new coach needed.
But management must remember, a quality coach, will bring good result in short time.
Then back to the management, will they invest on a quality coach. And can they listen to his demand. Because from Maldini’s era, players coming in and out are mostly not from the coach request. And until now, its still happen in Milan.
Thats why, we can’t blame the coach only, because they did not have the players they want, to generate his system.
I keep seeing this comparison as if it really makes a difference. One being cr.ap doesn’t mean the other is good on his own merit. They both sh!tty! And should have never been hired esp The Fonz in the first place.
Fonseca’s big problem was that some players had enough power to undermine him (Leão/Theo). Fonseca did not have enough gravitus to implement his plan. The mistake was management hiring him not understanding how his ideas would rub players. Pioli had developed relationships with players and had a history of success. Milan needs to hire a heavy hitter as the next manager who can impose his scheme on players.
Its kinda funny that before Fonsesca is chosen, the candidate is the likes of Lopetegui, Van Bommel and Sergio, many of whom are not household name in coaching. At most Sergio with Porto have some credentials. However the fans are crying for Conte, Sarri, De Zerbi whom are not considered by the management.
TL;DR – both are sh*t
Under Conceicao ACM has moved to a Leão/Theo centric attack. Fonseca moved to a team system in which no one was bigger then the team.
Just like I said. Tactically Fonseca is so far superior to Conceicao. It’s much worse than the numbers even show. Conceicao has been lucky getting some miraculous results even when the team played awful.
If Fonseca was allowed to stay we would be in a much better position right now.
The other point not mentioned in the article. Fonseca had a bad start the league but was then slowly improving.
2.0 points per game in his last 15 games.
Conceicao has done the opposite. Good/lucky start in a pointless cup and then it has mostly gone backwards.
His last 2 games however have been better with the 343 formation.
stupid unfair comparison
fonseca had all summer and a pre season
conceicao had 3 days and mid season
personally, id like carlo or sarri or italiano
Comparison 2 bad foreign coach not making things better. Both are awful. From 1990 to 2025 only 10℅ foreign coach win scudetto & CL ( with italian club). While 90% italian coach win trophy with italian club and yet this stupid management choose to gamble in that 10% foreign coach just because they accept short term contract ( fonz 1 years & sergio 6 month) while italian coach asking 2 years contract for working stability, now eat that cheap style that making your club losing 50m euro from CL money.