There are two issues that AC Milan’s leadership must resolve in the coming weeks: the new sporting director and, subsequently, the head coach.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) report this morning, these two things are obviously linked to each other because until there is a new director there will be no news regarding who will be in the dugout in 2025-26. However, there is no shortage of rumours, including regarding Sergio Conceicao.
If until recently the Portuguese’s farewell at the end of this season seemed certain, now he has a chance of being retained. Those chances would be further boosted if he were to also win the Coppa Italia, which would be the second trophy of the season after the Supercoppa Italiana.
It is a small percentage, ‘around 10%’ as per the newspaper, but certainly higher than the one close to zero a few days ago when his farewell at the end of this current campaign seemed to be an unavoidable fate.
The most likely scenario remains a change in manager and there are several names circulating. Among the candidates to replace Conceiçao there is for example Massimiliano Allegri who is free from contract, as well as Maurizio Sarri.
Then there are other coaches that the current directors like, but who are currently under contract with other clubs. One of these is certainly Vincenzo Italiano, who is doing great things at Bologna, as well as Cesc Fabregas who is also impressing at Como.
In the background there are Roberto De Zerbi – current coach of Marseille – and above all Antonio Conte if he were to decide to leave Napoli at the end of the season. It is no mystery that the latter is the ‘great dream’ of the Milan fans.
Same stories, different captions. We will have to bear this BS for at least 2 more months
If truly Conte leaves Napoli at the end of the season, either they win the title or finish second, then his mental capacity, maturity and professionalism should be questioned, and Milan should stay well clear of him, because he will still behave petulantly, complain about everything, and behave like a spoiled child.
As for Allegri, his style of playing, and a lack of character when faced with important challenges, despite the fact he is a serial winner domestically, he lacks the knowledge and courage to be successful in Europe, he still is a provisional Coach.
Then if you also look at De Zerbi, he is a jnr Conte, with all the flaws and immaturity, he is not yet a winner and honestly he is over rated.
The logical thing is to continue with Sergio Conceicao, was a winner as a player, part of the golden generation of Portugal, has experience of playing with worldclass players and opponents, has the experience of been Coached by world class Coaches, has Coached Porto and has won multiple titles, understands European football, he already knows the players, and necessary adjustments that should be made, he will win 2 trophies in 6 months, has already implemented his ideas and methodology, and the club should make it abundantly clear that any DS coming has to support him and work with him, it would be a mistake to allow a new DS to replace him, the DS has to earn the clubs respect by working along the parameters they set.
Conceciao at best is at Fonseca’ s level, both of them should’nt have been hired in the first place . After Pioli ( who is a better coach then Conceciao) , they should have got Conte because he achieves , look at Napoli this season.
Stop about Sergio’ s playing days, Pirlo, Gattuso and Inzaghi were 10 times the players Conceciao was but still did not turn out to be world class coaches .
The best case scenario would be Milan winning the Coppa Italia ( it’s not a given ) so Sergio can leave with dignity and maybe the management can bring in someone who raises the players performances as Conte is doing at Napoli, meaning winning points week in , week out.
Shouldn’t this be up to the sporting director…?
Their are certain decisions that need to be taken as a group,a sporting director needs to work within the parameters set by a club, their is a hierarchy, people the sporting director is answerable to, the way Milan is structured any DS who comes in the next few months needs to operate within the parameters set by the owners, he needs to recognise the financial ability and the restraints, he needs to also recognise that their is a project right now, we have a core and a stable squad , that needs to only be strengthened with precise buys, we don’t need a revolution, he also needs to take into consideration the Futuro players, then even the loaned out players, decisions need to be made about the players we have on loan, with the exception of Walker, we need to confirm all of them, they are all good players and will definitely bear fruit next season, as Capello said we do not need a revolution.
Then when it comes to the Coach, it would be very unfair to the players, the present Coach and management, for a new DS without knowing the dynamics of the club, the players and even Coach, to try and bring in a new Coach when we already have a Coach who has started implementing a new philosophy, which has started to bear fruit , the right thing is to support Sergio Conceicao and sit down with him and the management to try and build on the foundations already at the club, if a completely opposite option is taken, and the new DS brings another Coach and begins to cannibalize our squad, then we will be in worse trouble and it will affect our financial stability, players like Walker, Florenzi and Chukweze can be allowed to leave, then we confirm the players on loan, and full in some spots with the players we allowed to go on loan, we need to be sensible when we purchase new players now….