AC Milan suffered perhaps their most damaging defeat of the season last night, losing 2-1 to Bologna and seeing their top four hopes all but ended.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning that Milan will only have the Coppa Italia to fight for as a major objective this season, and they will gain a place in the Europa League at most, with fourth spot now eight points away.
It feels like the end of the road for Sergio Conceiçao, with the only question mark being whether that will be in the near future or if at the natural deadline of June 30 (Milan have a break clause in his 18-month deal), but his future seems written.
His points per game average is not good enough: 1.56 in nine league games. His predecessor Paulo Fonseca had done better, albeit by a hair (1.59 in 17). The second defeat in a row has shown that the Rossoneri are a fragile team, and they threw away a good position at the Stadio Renato dall’Ara.
Going long
From the opening exchanges it was clear that Conceiçao had asked his players to be direct. The aim from the instruction was to try and exploit the space that opened up between the goalkeeper Skorupski and the high defensive line.
Not even a minute had passed when Tijjani Reijnders found Yunus Musah whose cross towards Santiago Gimenez was met with a disappointing shot, one unworthy of the €32m that Milan invested in January.
It proved that the approach might be correct though and it was repeated a few minutes later, with Bologna forced to commit a foul to prevent Joao Felix from doing damage in transition, triggered by another deep ball.
Two minutes before the break, the third attempt was successful. Mike Maignan’s long ball, Gimenez’s header to flick on for Leao, who beat De Silvestri for pace, rounded Skorupski and deposited the ball into the net.
There were some warning signs, but nothing major. Malick Thiaw tried to repeat his own-goal against Torino, but the ball went out for nothing. Benjamin Dominguez had caused issues for Alex Jimenez, but he had only managed one big chance, with Maignan saving well.
Bologna had controlled the game and Conceiçao had gambled on hurting them when they gave the ball away. After all, his style is modelled on the opponents, rather than what his own team are able to do.
The collapse
At the start of the second half, Bologna turned up the intensity right away. The 1-1 came immediately, the result of a free kick given away by Theo Hernandez. De Silvestri headed on, the ball ricocheted off Fabbian and Castro fired in from close range. The goal was approved by the VAR, despite appeals.
Conceiçao attempted a reshuffle: Felix out, Christian Pulisic in. The American settled on the right, with Reijnders as attacking midfielder and Musah moved to midfield: a useless exchange in the end. Destiny was sealed in the 82nd minute.
On a throw-in by Miranda, Cambiaghi – who had just come on – beat Jimenez and crossed for Ndoye who got ahead of Pavlovic to stab in from close range. To add insult to injury, Davide Calabria came on right after the goal.
To recap, Milan conceded a goal on a free kick and a throw-in, proof that they lack even basic organisation from dead balls. Conceiçao was hired precisely for his reputation as a motivator and and an organiser. The Portuguese coach has failed.
Milan are eighth – 16 points behind league leaders Inter after 26 games – and this is unthinkable. The team is better than that and Conceiçao is the easy target, but no one is innocent in this sinking Milan.
” The team is better than that and Conceiçao is the easy target, but no one is innocent in this sinking Milan.”
What team? There is no team. Just two dozen of individuals doing individual things. Bologna was a team. A good one. No primadonnas acting like GOATs. Everyone did their part. And more.
Headline should be “Milan Stinks”.
🫣
This is a cluster f#%k from multiple origins.
But geez Conceicao is making it much worse.
His style doesn’t appear suitable to our squad.
He wants to play a scrappy long ball style but then fills the team with attacking players so that there is almost no natural defenders on the pitch.
This game plan only works if you can keep clean sheets in most games.
As soon as you start conceding regular goals, this game plan falls apart.
E.g. Napoli have been imploding in recent weeks and suddenly look very average.
Conceicao’s teams have constantly conceded goals since he arrived. Our best period defensively was Fonseca’s last approximately 10 games.
We threw that out for this shambles.
All timed around a 6 month contract clause.
👍nice one Ibrahimovic and co.
That decision is really paying off now.
The coach has lost it. He must be fired immediately. Musah, Theo, Felix and Jimenez had nothing to do on the field. Concecaio has failed miserably. Fonseca shouldn’t have been fired. He had the courage to bench Theo, Leao, Tomori and Abrahams and his reforms and disciplined approach would have yielded much fruit if he was supported by Milan. Firing him was knee jerk reaction by the management to shift blame and save themselves. Theo was responsible for the equaliser. He doesn’t know how to tackle. Pavlovich faced the same test Theo faced but he passed duty flying colours. Each time he sharpened the Bologna player to goal kick. The coach keeps selecting him match after match. Bartesaghi would have played better at LB. He changed Jimenez after we have conceded the second goal. The coach was lost. No tactics. Milan was bankrupt technically and tactically on the field. I am very upset. I don’t care anymore about the remaining matches. We will loose them all if the coach is not sacked.
I now understand why Moratta, Calabria, Bennacer,etc left. Milan should fire Concecaio immediately or we risk sinking deeper and deeper. I was an ardent supporter but now I have lost respect for him. He should go. We don’t need him. With our current squad, any coach worthy of his salt should have beaten Bologna hands down. Bonera, the primavera coach, who was relieved of his job recently would have beaten Bologna. Concecaio could have done better with Porto but Porto is not Milan! He should be fired immediately. We should go for Gasperini, Xavi, Donadoni or Ranieri or Sarri and you will see how they will turn things around immediately. Fire Concecaio immediately.
Gerry the Ringmaster to his clowns after the match:
“What do you mean finishing 8th won’t get us to play offs?!”
🤣🤣
It’s just become a joke. I agree that Fonseca should never have been fired, Milan played better football under him. I’d go as far as to say that Pioli would be further up the table, if not challenging!
We can change the squad, sure, but we need better management. I appreciate that Gerry wants to make Milan self sustainable and have their own stadium, but that’s just the business side of things. He has no idea about the footballing side of it, hence why he hired zlatan.
New owners, and directors needed, that will also bring in Italians.
Bring home Tonali. He will sift out all the trash in the team.
Jerry Clowndinale gets what he deserves and I enjoy this 😆
I want Maldini back and Ibra out !