Sergio Conceicao has not even been in the job for two months yet, but he is already approaching a potentially decisive period as AC Milan head coach.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) describe Milan’s situation as ‘a tangled mess that’s difficult to untangle even for an experienced coach like him’. Conceicao coached a team like Porto for the last seven years so he knows what pressure is, but this might be even higher stakes.
He knows that tonight and Tuesday are two matches to win at all costs, to remain firmly on course for qualification for the next Champions League and to reach the round of 16 of the current edition of the tournament.
The presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Geoffrey Moncada at training yesterday clearly conveyed the message to the team, because the directors think exactly like the coach. The bad performance in Rotterdam must be cancelled out with four days that are worthy of Milan.
Redemption mission
Conceiçao had already digested the bitterness of Wednesday’s poor performance on Thursday, working all afternoon with his staff on the team against Verona. Yesterday he asked for a strong reaction, focusing above all on concentration and aggression.
These are the two characteristics that were most lacking on the night at De Kuip, because a lack of concentration causes individual errors like those of Mike Maignan in Rotterdam or Matteo Gabbia in Zagreb, while a lack of aggression gives courage to the opponents and leads them to score first.
In the 12 games under Conceicao so far, the Rossoneri have fallen behind seven times. The comeback has not always been as successful as in the semi-final and final of the Supercoppa Italiana, either. It went well in Como and against Parma, but not against Juventus, Dinamo Zagreb and Feyenoord.
A turnaround is needed immediately, because losing more ground to fourth place, leaving other points on the road against lower-ranking sides would be almost as serious as going out in the play-offs against Feyenoord, who they took the best player from (Santiago Gimenez) in the winter mercato.
Limited time
Sergio has faith in his team, even if they have never managed to win three games in a row under his tenure so far. More time on the training field would have been ideal, given that since December 31st the team have played 12 matches in 46 days, or one every three or four days.
It is difficult to instil his idea of football in such a limited time but the principles must at least be shown. This is why two victories against Verona and Feyenoord are needed tonight and on Tuesday, with the March international break looking which should give a welcome pause.
Since he arrived at Milanello, Conceiçao immediately won a trophy – the Supercoppa Italiana – and in Serie A, with the same number of games played, he has obtained the same number of points as Fiorentina, Juventus and Inter (11). He has even done better than Lazio (10) and Atalanta (9).
All this is despite having wasted important opportunities against Cagliari and in the derby (a draw due to a goal conceded in injury time). Now, however, a change of pace is needed to turn the season around, to change the direction it had taken in the autumn.
No more excuses from players or manager please.
I do not want to hear from players like Leao and Tiji and Walker that the other team had more intensity etc.
You are the people on the field, move your asse5!
I don’t want to hear the coach complaining he does not have time. You have had plenty of time and plenty of matches to practice. Real games are much better learning experiences than pre-season friendlies.
If the players are not running or working hard, that is your fault as manager. Either get them to work or use different players ffs!!
I would drop Theo and Leao for this game and Fofana. Bartesaghi, Sottil and Musah will work harder.
NO MORE EXCUSES. RUN OR SIT ON THE BENCH YOU LAZY GOOD FOR NOTHING F_CKERS
Have you ever tried to motivate others? It’s not as easy as it sounds. Just because you say something doesn’t mean people will listen or take action. True motivation requires real leadership—something Millan is currently lacking.
A coach can yell all he wants, but if no one takes action, it’s just noise—going in one ear and out the other. We need a leader on the field who can drive results, someone with the passion and urgency of Ronaldo, showing his frustration in the locker room after a poor first half
& salary which is too big for lazy people