Sergio Conceicao launched into an impassioned defence of himself and his AC Milan side after their 2-1 defeat to Bologna tonight.
Going into the game at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara, Milan knew that they probably needed a win to keep alive their slim hopes of getting a top four spot. At half-time things were going according to plan, even if Rafael Leao’s opener had come a bit against the run of play.
However, a second-half collapse is what followed, with Santiago Castro firing in an equaliser in controversial circumstances and then Dan Ndoye netting from close range in the closing stages to earn Bologna a 2-1 win.
A second defeat in six days means that Milan are now eight points behind Juventus in fourth place and now also three points behind tonight’s hosts, with any hopes of a Champions League place now surely over bar the shouting.
What explanations do you give for the second half?
“Didn’t you count the first one?”
In the first half Milan played well, in the second?
“I say that there was a blatant handball on the first goal, we should have done more on these errors too. All the negative incidents for us happen to be decisive for the opponent. For us they are really negative for the result.
“We need to continue working, see what we have done well, we have done a little bit well, even if football is not talked about much. They are our mistakes, mistakes of another team too. These small episodes in the end are decisive.”
Mentally you can’t always be at 100%? Is there too much weight for what is around Milan today?
“That’s exactly right. You made a perfect argument. We are connected to the game, we are compact, we know where to press the opponent, we are compact with the defensive line to allow our midfielders to have space between the lines, countering where I thought they would have suffered from the space in behind: we scored like this.
“We pushed into the lateral spaces, I remember two moments in the second half that should have had a different outcome. When we are in the game we play as we prepared, we are good, we get to 30 metres with ease. And then every now and then these episodes happen, both through our fault and also through the fault of others…
“I’m sorry to speak like this today because it’s not just the referee who is to blame for this defeat. But these episodes always happen, it seems like we are in the heat during the game. It’s a mental issue. Today at the level of this attitude that many coaches talk about we had it, but these small episodes happen that are negative for us and very positive for the others.”
Is there anything else you didn’t like?
“The criteria, we talk about criteria and fouls that first are there and then we don’t whistle at all when it’s for me. But referees, like coaches, also make mistakes. These small incidents have a big weight: we need positive results also for the environment, it’s not easy at all.
“I know what I want, I know what I can do. I realise that every day people talk about my situation here and my future, acting as if I was just dropped in here, but I faced five very big Italian clubs, I faced coaches like Sarri and Pioli in charge of teams that were theoretically weaker, but I always qualified against them other than with Inter.
“I know what I can do. I see a lot of people talking about my situation, but my situation is simple. They tell me ‘You’re no longer needed’, so I’ll take my suitcase and leave. I don’t even earn a single euro more. I’m calm, I want to reassure people.
“I don’t come from nowhere: I have almost 100 games in the Champions League, I’ve won 13 trophies, but every day they enjoy talking about me. I have family, I have people close to me and they see so much negativity about me and it’s not right. Sorry for the outburst.”
I support Conceico
Same it’s not his fault… it’s a mental issue like in man city.. and idk how to get out of it tbh. I feel like we need to be down bad so bad that we can go no where but up again with confidence. What we have rn is fake confidence
Imo Conceicao is a big reason the confidence is low!!
No the only option is to get rid of every f….. American Owner and sell the club and get Maldini back thats the only OPTION. With this kind of American Clowns as owners who care about the money you cant achieve nothing, cause the real passion and idea to make the club great is missing.
I’m an American and could not agree more,get rid of Cardinale. Cardinale sleeps like a warm baby win or lose
while the rest of us toss and turn at night unable to sleep worried about what the next game will bring. Pioli left at the correct time, we were 2nd last year and look where we are now. And now when it would be easy to just give up, not me , Forza Milano
“Aren’t you all super impressed with my Portuguese League trophies?”
Umm No. This guy has never coached in a top 5 League and now we are seeing why. A clueless man who is way over his head, who has no ideas and thinks screaming at the players to play harder qualifies as tactics. Please send him back to the Portuguese league now.
But why did he relieve Gabbia he was our best CB before he takes control of the team
We’ve witnessed what he can do and achieve in the past. We can’t say the same about Fonseca (still crazy to think he’s chosen by this management). Looking on how his Porto played, at least that’s something that we can expect him to bring. Sooner or later.
As someone who entered halfway, he couldn’t do much about how his team play and all the mechanism needed. He’s brought to at least fix the mentality of this team. Something that’s sadly not working that well lately. Pioli first (or half) season at Milan didn’t go too well either.
In pioli’s half season, Milan did well and finished 6th. That’s why his contract was extended. This coach has no defense
You forgot the Rangnick fiasco? If there were no Maldini and Ibra, Pioli was a goner. 6th don’t bring us UCL. Same with this season. On a positive note, we won Super Coppa and still in the race of Coppa Italia with this coach.
I have been supporting Milan since 1994.. stop playing Joao Felix..terminate is loan immediately.. Milan play more better when they sub him..He add anything to the attack…. running around like a waste…If I see him next match.. I will stop watching Milan for the rest of the season..play Yunus Musah on the midfield and push Tijjani Reijnders.. play Christian Pulisic on the left .. The coach need to be calm with the player.. you are too hard.. I want him to stay.if you play Felix again..than you need to be sack.watch all last 5 matches with him… nothing to talk about him.. please am on my kneels.don’t play him anymore.. We are playing 10 against 11.. take him off.Felix is our main problem right now..
Conceicao played for Inter in the past. Maybe that says a lot! haha I am thinking he does not support Milan
“I got into Serie A by watching and supporting Inter. It’s always been an ambition of mine, a dream. Now it’s come true.”
Pioli (2017).
He is the only real man in this toxic wasteland.
They fired Maldini because he asked for more quality players, after they lifted the trophy 🏆, sold the player who wants to playing for the team.
It’s on Cardinal.
Yes. Cardinale is probable rich but dumb as fu**
Problem is we are going tonhave weaker team next year. Because that cu** will do the sale just to get the money
No they fired him because he was blamed for players leaving for nothing, for Origi and for CDK.
These type of shouty shouty coaches don’t work in the modern game. If things don’t improve by the end of March, he’ll be sacked.
Not Conceicao’s fault at all. You can’t polish a turd…..
Been headed this way since Maldini sacking and then casting off Pioli.
Burn it down, bring in a competent DS and Cesc and start fresh.
If Pioli, Maldini and Massara create something with unknown Kalulu, Kjaer, Krunic, Messias, Saelemakers, very old Giroud, Rebic, Dest,…. what should we expect from Fonseca and Conceicao who have the strongest possible players in last 15 and more years ?
Red Bird got struck by karma this season because they went too far but from summer is time for Cardinale to spend money on best coach and best possible team.
Unknown? Kjaer is a world class, why is he in the category of Unknown?
Kjaer was below average player before started playing for Milan.
I have been supporting Milan since 1994.. stop playing Joao Felix..terminate is loan immediately.. Milan play more better when they sub him..He add anything to the attack…. running around like a waste…If I see him next match.. I will stop watching Milan for the rest of the season..play Yunus Musah on the midfield and push Tijjani Reijnders.. play Christian Pulisic on the left .. The coach need to be calm with the player.. you are too hard.. I want him to stay.if you play Felix again..than you need to be sack.watch all last 5 matches with him… nothing to talk about him.. please am on my kneels.don’t play him anymore.. We are playing 10 against 11.. take him off.Felix is our main problem right now..
World class?? Why wasn’t he in Barcelona or real Madrid??? He was above average, with some experience to offer the younger ones we had
“World class”😂
Yeah at the end of this season he will get fired.
The second banter era is coming and that thanks to RedTurd 🙂
No. Croatia, Cardinal need to sale the team.
His approach may not be right for this group of players. Maybe it works at Porto with developing players, but at Milan there are more established players that don’t respond well to what Sergio is doing.
I’m starting to thing there was truth to Puli and Reijnders’ arguments with Sergio. Especially given how quickly Milan put out a statement about Puli.
Based on the performances, feels like the team just isn’t behind Sergio anymore for whatever reason.
Completely agree, he may be a good coach with certain players, but he definitely isn’t the personality needed for this group of players. He argue with Morata, Bennacer, attacked Calabria and probably argue with reindeers, puli, and fofana since each has had a supposed rift with him. That’s too much, he lost the dressing room before he ever had it. Only player liking him is Felix.
European football (soccer) is a pure business, specially for American businessmen. And owning a European football team is just a clear business project for Red Bird . Even if your team doesn’t win any trophies during the season you (as an owner) still can make money at least by buying and selling right players right time . And mostly you don’t even have to be a fan of the team you own. Instead you can be a fan of other team or totally hate soccer. We are all talking from the fan side of Milan . But what can be good for the team and fans , could be loosing and not profitable strategies for the owner of the business in the long run . Of course Cardinale wants to see his team wining matches rather then loosing , but don’t forget, he is a first of all businessman, otherwise he would never sucked Maldini , the Legend and history of
the club
He need players his own choice not Fonseca choice.
Wait, is he seriously trying to say the first half was good? They were worse in the first half, outplayed from minute 1. One lucky over the top ball to Leao doesn’t change that. This guy is way over his head. Back to the Portuguese league where apparently no tactics at all are needed to win.
Yeah it was a dreadful first half
In retrospect Inter had a record,outstanding season last year, luck went their way and we as die hard fans were upset partly blaming Pioli, me included , wanting the Scudetto again. Getting rid of Pioli was a mistake looking back on the past year. Now we will lose a core group of great players. 2nd place again would not be so bad. Forza
.
I dont even see yet milan playing like porto,,why???and milan build up very2 different with porto,,why??
why your tactic at porto and how build up attacking dont you try at milan??
I believe Pioli could have done better with this players
Why isn’t the obvious being stated. Pulisic has been involved in the most goal contributions and arguably the best Milan player all year. In the final third, we are terrible and most players look to shoot and never hit the open player. How is he benching Pulisic for Felix, it’s ridiculous, oh wait, they are both Portuguese. that’s the only explanation!
One of the worst coaches in Milan history right next to Giampaolo, F.Inzaghi, Brocchi…
But we must not forget our players fault…many of them are soooooo weak mentally
#CardinaleOut
We need to start being comfortable with the idea that we will end this season below 10th place. Roma is going to surpass us, Udinese too. We have to go all in in Copa Italia. That is the only way we will have European Competition next season. Without it, we wont even get conference league!
I have no idea where he is coming from here. Doesn’t sound like he was watching the same match. He is talking like we dominated the game and deserved to win but for some bad luck and bad refereeing.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We were poor most of the match. Bologna were far superior. They controlled the ball. We got lucky in the first half to go in front but it felt like only a matter of time before Bologna would wear us down and win.
Most of this poor situation is the fault of management.
But I have to say that Conceicao is making the situation worse. Again his tactics were poor.
His substitutions were mostly poor.
He only used 3 of the 5 subs.
Including the last single change about about 86 mins to bring off Jimenez. Why not do a triple change at this point when you have just gone behind.
Leao needed to come off. I know he got a goal in one great moment. But he was otherwise very poor. Lots of mistakes & poor passes. Never looked dangerous beyond that one moment.
Conceicao seems to want to play a defense & fast counter attacking game. But we don’t have the strong defensive foundation to do this.
He picks too many attacking players to do this game plan. Whilst we might have fast wingers to take advantage of the turn overs. We don’t have a solid base to build this game plan on.
We have two we have two decent CBs and that is mostly it.
Our two full backs today are not natural defenders. Neither are the two double pivot players. I include Fofana as not a true defensive midfielder.
Despite what it said on the team sheet. Rjeinders was mostly playing as a central midfielder & Musah was RW. Felix was a second striker & Leao was LW.
If he wants to do this game plan he needs a back 4 that is mostly defensive & two defensive midfielders. At a minimum. And then have a smaller number of creative players up front and ready to pounce.
We have seriously regressed from what Fonseca was trying to do.
I totally agree with you about Conceciao. He is fielding too many attacking players leaving the team unbalanced and vulnerable, never establishing a solid base as you mentioned.
We have regressed , there are no clear attacking mechanisms that work , no trust in a game(or style) to rely on when you face teams who battle like Feyenoord,Bologna etc…the collective is always bigger then the individual. This team relies on Individuals.
In a big way it’s not his fault. Who does he have to turn to to give the side defensive strength?
He’s got no genuine defensive midfielders.
Hopefully Bondi when he is finally fit. The only other option is Terracciano.
With the style he wants combined with our squad limitations. I’d play 3 at the back. To give us stability.
And start benching a lot of stars.
Conceicao doesn’t have any game plan, if we can play cowardly against teams like Dinamo Zagreb, feyenoord, Torino bologna, what do we expect from conceicao who have arrays of stars at his disposal yet he he no game plan than kick and follow pattern of play. I’m was ashamed seeing Milan running after shadow last night against bologna. If we are to play team like Liverpool home and away now. I bet it, we are going to exposed worldwide. Imagine lazy Felix with no stamina and pace, ready to go Theo Hernandez, and playful Leao that lacks seriousness this days makes no reasonable impact in the last 3 Milan matches, were always fielded in our team, while players who are hungry and willing to do better were benched. We actually to have a coach yet.
Conceicao doesn’t have any game plan, if we can play cowardly against teams like Dinamo Zagreb, feyenoord, Torino bologna, what do we expect from conceicao who have arrays of stars at his disposal yet he he no game plan than kick and follow pattern of play. I’m was ashamed seeing Milan running after shadow last night against bologna. If we are to play team like Liverpool home and away now. I bet it, we are going to exposed worldwide. Imagine lazy Felix with no stamina and pace, ready to go Theo Hernandez, and playful Leao that lacks seriousness this days makes no reasonable impact in the last 3 Milan matches, were always fielded in our team, while players who are hungry and willing to do better were benched. We actually have no coach yet.
Fonseca is far better than Conceicao,he win 13 Portuguese tittle good for him,I don’t see any improvement under him we barely score goal this day Fonseca won 5 straight champion league match even beating real Madrid 3-1 if it was Conceicao that coach agains Madrid we would have lost with 5-1 Conceicao should leave Milan is bigger than him serie a is not Liga Portugal
I admit I like the guy but seeing him start Felix & Musah in every match makes me want to punch the guy. Hard.
I’m starting to feel I’d even rather have fng Allegri coach us than watch Musah & Felix waste my time twice a week.
And it’s not like he has made anyone play better (excl. Pavlovic but one could argue he wasn’t playing at all before Serg started playing him). Pulisic, Fofana & Reijnders are just ghosts of themselves from Fonseca era.
I think we all feel the same way. Felix first 2 games were good then nothing. Definitely doesn’t deserve to start over Pulisic ( who is not exactly in good form btw).
Regarding Musah , who exactly do you want him to play in the middle? It’s just him and Fofana really, he is no Seedorf but he hasn’t been out worst player , and he will improve for sure . There is who else ?
As long as this managent is in place and ownership continue with their philosophy and approach of treating their players as asstes with pricetags for potential re-sale instead of building a team with a longterm project in place, this club will continue to plunge and be a toxic wasteland.
This situation is the reflection of the philosophy and so called vision this ownership tries to implement.
All the criticisms revolve around the players and the coach, but the management is composed of people who have nothing to do with the ‘management’ of soccer teams and players. An ownership that has invested to make profits, but without a strategy, selecting players without contextualizing their use. In short, we are looking at the moon and not the finger.”
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
100% support from my end in the meantime get yourself gone and leave the CON MEN WHO ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS TO THERE OWN SELF DEMISE.
UNTIL PROPER AC MILAN FANS COMES OUT FULLY AGAINST THE OWNERS BOTH HOME AND ABROAD THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
THE PLAYERS AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH HOW MANY MORE TIMES DOES IT HAVE TO BE SAID TO SINK IN.
This man ego is more strong then his team! Come on! You have 13 trophies where? 3rd class league where there only 2 clubs competing? This is AC. Milan!! Show some respect!
I beg the coach in the name of God. Stop playing Joao Felix again. That guy is not a player. That is why he never succeed in any club he goes. Send him back to chalsea
“What explanations do you give for the second half?
“Didn’t you count the first one?””
GEEZ 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ way to start off the interview