Sergio Conceicao was left angry after AC Milan’s defeat against Feyenoord last night, because the players failed to take note of his warning.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) have a segment titled: ‘Conceicao scolds everyone’. They recall what the coach did after the game against Feyenoord last night, one that his side lost while not demonstrating the determination and fight he asked for.
At the end of the match Conceiçao immediately returned to the dressing room, with his head lowered and with few greetings and pleasantries. He left his post-match interview room after just one question, angry at having waited for the room to be vacated by Smal, Feyenoord’s full-back.
He was hoping for a different evening and instead here he is still waving his arms on the bench in a (vain) attempt to convey ideas and energy. Despite the cold temperatures and the freezing rain, he threw off his jacket and with got his usual black sweater soaked under the water.
The Portuguese would like the team to have his same passion and his intensity, but no. He has a group held back by their attitude, incapable of reacting with determination to going behind after Mike Maignan’s blunder.
After the game, the head coach said: “We’re only halfway there. We still have 90 minutes to play. We knew about this difficult atmosphere, they were very aggressive, they won many duels. When this is the case it becomes more difficult to win a game.
“We had opportunities to equalise and we weren’t effective offensively, we didn’t take advantage of them. In addition to a bit of bad luck in the goal scored. We lacked aggression in the tackles, they were faster and more decisive. These are very important things: this is where games are won.”
Rafael Leao frustrated Conceicao too, after going down inside the box asking for a penalty and staying down, only to get up once the ball came back into the area. The home fans did not forgive him, booing him for the rest of the night.
Conceiçao didn’t seem to be in the mood either, who – to convince Leao to press immediately – decided to send Samuel Chukwueze out to warm up. Rafa has the alibi of a problematic ankle, for which he asks for a painkiller to allow him to stay in the match.
“On an emotional level I am always very motivated to give the best of myself. For me the qualities are not just technical, there are many characteristics that players must have to be of the highest level: consistency, continuity, desire, attitude. With this you win many games,” Conceicao added.
“At a game level we also need this offensive aggressiveness. We had so many balls in the last 30 meters that we had to finish another way. The preparation for the match was the same as a Champions League final.”
San Siro had applauded the team in the victory against Roma, and then the win over Empoli was appreciated too. When Milan seemed to have found serenity again, they ended up shipwrecked in Rotterdam.
The players agree, starting with Leao: “We didn’t put in the same determination and aggression that they did. We weren’t at our level in this match, I also had an opportunity in the first half that I wasn’t able to take advantage of.” Walker added: “Football is a team sport, we must attack and defend all together.”
I think it’s pointless to try to scold these players, if it was going to work, it would have worked a long ago even under Fonseca. I assume most of these young men hate Conceição and they probably just waiting for the season to end and then each one of them will decide his own future, wether to stay or to leave the club.
Conceição’s contract probably won’t be renewed either.
Even if we make it through this round against Feyenoord, the chances of getting through either Arsenal or Inter are next to non-existant.
The race for the 4th place is probably over as well, so next season we will have to rebuild a squad without the deadwood and those who will probably ask to leave, with a new coach, with less money and trying to appeal to players that search for a UCL team.
Very good and spot on comment.
First of all, I would say definitely Red Bird did huge blunder. They are amateurs to European football and they hire management who can’t achieve something better on the pitch. Red Bird did well on revenue terms but after this season they will lose revenue as well because of on pitch results.
I can agree more with you. They must find better coach. They need to release all inconsistent players. They need to rethink strategies and goals. First goal must be – Serie A. Serie A is fundamental: if they don’t have results in homegrown league they don’t need to expect anything In Europe as well.
And next season is last chance for Red Bird to create minimum team that will fight first for scudetto and they for Europe. It is also last chance to keep some loaned players as back up, sell inconsistent and always injured players, flops. Decide to have game of the rests for first team players etc….
Coach must have first 11 players, first formation and back up for these 2 important things.
This season was RedBirda chaos.
There are a limited number of good coaches. As you say, RedBird are amateurs, BUT there’s no excuse for not going for someone like Italiano at the start of the season. He did an excellent job at Fiorentina and is doing well at Bologna. RedBird gave too much power to Moncada.
Or Motta (a name that actually was considered) who did great in Bologna, and not so great at Juve. Hindsight is 20/20
Motta, the guy who is stinking up the place at Juve but you geniuses still think he is good lmao
True talk bro good comment thanks
I think they should sell Rafael, Theo and get Nunez and a back up for Jimenez.conceicao is a good coach, I think he should get his starting eleven, sportilo, walker Tomori/ Gabbia, pavlovic/ thiaw, Jimenez, fofana, musah, pulisic/ chukwu tijjani, Felix and gimenez
Before Arsenal or Inter, it’s Juve or PSV..
U always write exactly my thoughts! Always
Just to add to that, the profile we needed for coach should be good man managers like Pioli. Those work with our players. We’re trying to hard to push the square peg in round holes a d it’s not working
Bad energy around the club and it all started when M&M were kicked out. Capitano at least made sure players weren’t acting out of line and were looked after. These clowns are grasping for their jobs willing to throw under the train anyone to save their spineless and coward behinds.
Right. M&M being fired is what made Leao lazy, like he wasn’t lazy while they were there.
That made Theo act like a clown like he wasn’t acting like a clown while they were there.
M&M being fired is the reason why Maignan gives up the goals he is giving up.
Maldini fanboys with another lame excuse for a comment.
While Maldini was the director players were leaving Milan for free and were being scolded by the fans in front of the whole world. Check the scenes after the Spezia game in 22/23 season. Coaching staff and players lined up in front of the Curva being thought a lesson by the fans. At least it’s the coach scolding the players, not the fans scolding the players and the coach.
Yeah, the bad energy started after M&M were kicked out.
Exactly. Ted can’t stop posting bs.
Don’t you have some bashing and insulting of Benny, Tonali and co. to do? Scram.
Well even Cardinale admited it was a mistake and left a big hole in the club. That is why he hired Ibrahimovic, there was nobody in management who actually played football, only bankers and scouts. It is pretty simple. When did Milan win the last title? And after that?
Milan couldn’t be in a worse position than it is today. Spent so much money since we have Moncada taking the place of Maldini and what we got? In the years they managed to buy 2 good players. 2. I’m not counting the players that just got here, they need to prove themselves. It is on the level of Chelsea, how bad they bought, just with less money since Milan doesn’t have it.
Why is there a lot of frustration, Yes Milan is not the best team in Seria A or CL but we still have some good players, I believe Fonseca and later Conceicao are the right managers to push the team to the next level, we are not expected to change a manager every 6 months and expect to get better. Still, there is a strong chance against Feyenoord next week in San Siro. Truly Milan is unexpected we can win 3-0 and we can also lose 0-3 next match because we have quality but we lack consistency. Keep optimistic guys.
They’re not the right managers for this group of players. Shouting doesn’t work. They’re no different to Conte and Mourinho, who are limited beyond telling their players to run hard and fight. We have some very gifted players, we need a coach who focuses less on fighting and more on playing.
Yes, Conte is really bad. Proven to be bad, never gets results, his tactics never work and he never changes them. 😀 Where do they raise clowns like you? Please tell me.
The screaming coach screams again with no tactical strategies. Lol
you are spot on
I think we need to get a balance between attack and defence
My theory is Serge becomes bold enough and drops Leao bringing him on as a sub
Change formation to 4-2-2-2
Walker/Emerson-Tomori/Gabbia-Pavlovic/Thiaw-Theo/Jimenez
Musah/Thiaw-Bondo/Fofana
Pulisic – Reijners
Felix/Camarda- Gimenez/Abraham
Once the game is stretched and we need fresh legs
We change to a 4-4-2
Sottil/Jimenez on opposed flanks for Reijners and Pulisic
This gut needs to take a look in the mirror. He is not a serious coach. Just screaming at your players to run harder does not qualify as tactics. He has no ideas.
This coach was so locked into everything going down the left and to his compatriots. There are 2 sides to the pitch Sir..
442 isn’t sustainable with Leao. COuld work with Sottil. 4231 doesn’t work for the same reason – too top heavy with not enough players helping in transition. 433 seems more balanced with a three-man midfield and 2 defensive mids.
As far as Conceicao, he’s been here for a minute now, and while he’ll need more time on the job, I do find it interesting that the team is still so hugely inconsistent. He may not fix the tactical issues and problems on the field, but at the very least I would have hoped to see more of a character change among the players. And yet, they still look lost and disinterested in certain games.
At some point the players have to be held responsible too and if it persists, you have to start clearing the locker room of those players…
Forget 442 and 4231
433
Walker-Gabbia-Pavlo-Jimenez
Musah-Fofana-Tiji
Puli-Gimenez-Felix
Walker should also overlap and help Puli in attack and not just stay back
Musah should be more defensive and help Fofana and Tiji
Leao is a one trick pony. Defenders knows how to keep him in check. Leao isn’t suitable for Milan anymore, get some money out of him and move on. To win league n European, we need more workhorse. Lazy players like Leao isn’t going to get you wins after wins
Shoutcecaio needs to calm the fck down, actually manage players and figure out how to win games and with a clear strategy.
Exactly! Players can look poorly motivated when the tactics are poor. ACM lost the midfield battle as they were down a man with the formation. You win the midfield you control the game.
How do you make men out of children? That’s what he’s faced with.
Bro, with great respect, Pioli was able to man manage these guys well. Maybe hardlining is not the best option for the players at hand especially when your best players don’t respond to hardline coaches. I put this on management. Either you want to bring in a hardline coach and then replace everyone who doesnt fall in line or you bring in a coach who is able to work/adapt to the players at hand and avoid exoduses. We’ve replaced hardline Fonseca with hardline Conceicao….it’s pretty much the same issue we’re going to have
I see Milan winning the champions league
Champions needs durability and loyalty, not by 1 winter transfer window. Keep Tonali, Kessie, Calabria.
Please leave Redbird and all director & advisor
Milan Is a scrap with the coach,he belongs to English championship