Sergio Conceicao was very disappointed after AC Milan’s draw against Cagliari earlier this evening. Speaking to the media, he stated that it was the weakest first half of his coaching career, considering the quality of the squad.
Milan had a couple of chances early on in the game but faded as the minutes went by, struggling to create against a team in the bottom of the standings. The deadlock was eventually broken in the second half, but the equaliser was conceded just minutes later.
For Conceicao and Milan, it was certainly a step back compared to the Supercoppa Italiana win. Speaking to Sky after the game, as transcribed by MilanNews, the manager admitted that it was the weakest first half of his coaching career.
Were you expecting more?
“Yes, certainly. I expected much more at all levels. I’ve been a coach for 13 years, comparing the quality of this group to what we did, it was the weakest first half of my coaching career. We lacked rhythm, quality, and they were all in front of the goal.
“We had to find references, depth and we weren’t that good and intelligent on this level. We missed a few chances, they wasted a bit of time. It’s not a problem if the opponent wastes time, but the referee must add more minutes. It’s not an excuse for us, though.”
What’s the problem?
“A bit of everything. A bit mental, a bit physical, we have to do a lot of work to improve. There were many periods in the game that I didn’t like at all. A draw is losing two points, I’m angry because if we had done everything we had prepared there would have been… We have to improve and work.”
Should the wingers have been wider to find more space?
“We lacked width, and when we had this width we were too still, it seemed like we were filming the game. Leao against two or three needs support and different movements, him and Pulisic on the other side. There is a lot of work to do, you saw well.”
Are Milan’s forwards too generous and not very selfish in front of goal?
“The feeling is that they are altruistic. That’s fine, I like players like that. But there are moments when they have to play simpler, it seems like they have to add a magic touch, but football is simple. In front of goal, you have to be selfish, the winger has to go one-on-one with the opponent. We look for difficult things sometimes and I don’t like that, football is simple.”
Did the group need rules and discipline?
“It’s been my way of doing things for many years, it’s not that I come here and I have to do it by force. For me, it’s simple things: schedules, training, being involved in the work day by day. If I’m here halfway through the season it’s because something wasn’t right: we have to take full responsibility. If we are rigorous and demanding outside the game then we will also be rigorous and demanding in the game.”
Como are up next and that clash is scheduled for Tuesday, so Conceicao won’t have too many days to work with the players. They cannot afford to drop points yet again, even if some of the top-four rivals have struggled too.
Not your fault.
Welcome to the reign of Fonceicao
Hi Serg, did your boss hire you to tell us “A draw is losing two points”? Did the owner let you know that Milan’s Fans is not very knowledgeable to know that?
Now the fans can response to him – Milan is currently in midtable, haha. coach the team, and blame the team less
We need more wise cracks like you on the planet.
There are some commentators on here I don’t even bother read their posts are so dumb – “Rosso Dejon” is one of them…
What? It is like bad AI, the model number 1 from 10 years ago wrote the comment.
This rubbish a draw against cagliari
Haters will suddenly get quiet when we win the Champions League. No one likes being made a fool of. When it goes quiet, you’ll know Milan has done well.
New coach , same story … this was must win game . Okey he is there 2 weeks, I understand it and don’t blame him. In this match it was definitely better , but yet again, Abraham is weak and hope we don’t buy him . 2 clear chances. This draw is mainly Abraham and Fofana mistake
That enthusiasm lasted for two matches and the players didn’t want to suffer to get the winning goal. Everyone was standing still for the last 20 minutes.
“We lacked width, and when we had this width we were too still, it seemed like we were filming the game”
That’s exactly my problem with this team… too still. Starting from Pioli (tbh, from the bantar era actually) to Fonseca’s reign. Some times you think that the game has been paused for some reason, and you ask they are still playing football.
At least the coach recognises it. Let’s see if he can shake off some old useless habit off the team.
This.
“… it was the weakest first half of my coaching career” Ouch. Let’s see what he can do to fix it by next Sun — oh, wait, TUESDAY. Wtf.
Did he not see his first half against Juve? That was much worse than this.
““We lacked width, and when we had this width we were too still, it seemed like we were filming the game. ”
THIS!!! FFS, every Milan player except the one with the ball was standing still (almost inside the penalty box) and watch what was going to happen. NO ONE made any runs. Nothing. Static. No one was willing to suffer to make room for themselves or team mates.
Milan has had “standing still” issues for some time now against teams that park the bus, even under pioli. We lack that short 1-2 quick passes in front of goal, maybe even skill to breakdown packed up defenses. At least under pioli we had giroud who would bully the defense. Concecao has his work cut out for him there.
You’d think that Abraham would do as well as Giroud did as he’s 10cm(?) taller but no…. Invisible. And when the ball comes to 1m from the goal line, he can squander the ball over the empty net without a sweat.