Sergio Conceicao’s future has been a hot topic in the media recently, with a potential renewal being discussed especially among the fans.
After four very tough months, the win against Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final restored some confidence among the fans. Bologna will be the opponents in Rome and while the Rossoblu have been tremendous this season, Milan have their Supercoppa Italiana precedent to rely on. For Conceicao, as such, it’s possible to start and end his tenure with a trophy.
Naturally, despite the struggles in the league since his arrival, questions have been asked about Conceicao’s future and whether he should stay rather than leave. Milan have always referred to the usual ‘evaluations are made at the end of the season’ argument, so perhaps the door hasn’t been completely locked. Or rather, based on what we have learned, the Rossoneri might find themselves without the key.
Conceicao finds a way out
In the last few weeks, especially amid reports of a potential stay, Conceicao himself has reflected on what the summer could hold. Despite the clause to renew his contract for one more season, which Milan can decide to trigger, the former Porto man already has a pretty clear idea: he wants to move on. As things stand, he has no intention of remaining as the Rossoneri’s head coach.
Seeing as the media has been talking about his replacement for months now, something Conceicao also criticised during an interview recently, it hasn’t been an easy environment to work in. Furthermore, the manager believes that the Milan directors haven’t done enough to put the rumours to bed, only fueling the suggestions that they don’t have full faith in him.
Abandoned would be the right word to use, at least if you ask Conceicao, so even in the event of a renewal proposal, we shouldn’t expect the manager to say yes. Instead, he has identified a way out that won’t damage his reputation: winning the Coppa Italia final and making it two trophies in just six months. He knows that it would strengthen his resume significantly ahead of a summer move.
It would be similar, in a way, to what happened with Max Allegri at the end of last season. Juventus prevailed 1-0 against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia final and two days later, the manager was sacked by the club. He fell out with the sporting director, Cristiano Guintoli, but still left the job with his head held high largely thanks to the Coppa Italia trophy.
Milan taste their own medicine
It might sound a bit dramatic when you put it like that, but the point is that Conceicao wouldn’t back Milan if they were to offer a contract renewal. Just like they wouldn’t back him during months of rumours in the media. Even though they have been looking at other managers anyway, the Rossoneri would thus get a taste of their own medicine, with the ‘stability route’ now completely out of sight.
None of this really matters if Milan intend to move on anyway, let’s be clear about that. We would simply be talking about a respectful parting of ways in that case, even if Conceicao has hinted that he could share a few well-chosen words in the summer: “I will talk about these six months at the end of the season. What we did well, what we didn’t do well, and so on,” he stated.
In the meantime, however, full focus is on the Coppa Italia as Conceicao is determined to end on a high. No matter how you look at it, two trophies in six months is very impressive, especially when you knock out the likes of Juventus, a treble-hungry Inter (twice) and an in-form Bologna side along the way. It would also be Milan’s first double since 2003-2004, which says a lot.
It would certainly help Conceicao find another job rather quickly, perhaps at a club where he can be more involved in the overall project. At Milan, after all, he was an emergency solution (as evidenced by the fact that he wasn’t hired in the summer) and that is never ideal for a coach. Unless you’re called Claudio Ranieri, I suppose, but that is a completely different situation and we all know it.
We can only hope that Conceicao will indeed clinch a second trophy with Milan in a few weeks, regardless of what happens in the summer.
Maybe this ownership/management are not as bad as banter era(yet). However, I despise these clowns more than anybody in the past. The incompetence and possible bad faith, is frustrating.
COMO DIRÍA ZLATAN DESPUÉS DE LA ELIMINACIÓN DE CHAMPIONS POR LA ESTUPIDEZ!!! DE THEO (1 MINUTO MILAN IBA GANANDO) “MILAN SE SUICIDÓ ASÍ MISMO”
Yeah I get it, you guys dont like him because he isnt Italian enough and people here just eat up whatever bullsh*t the newspapers serves
Also noticed Milan barely lets anything leak nowadays so papers get frustrated most of the time and starts making up random rumours, they didnt even know about most of the transfers in January till the day before or even later.
We’re already used to these spineless cowards running away and hide when things go bad. We saw how they let down the players when they should have been protecting them from the wrath of the fans.
But these clowns are also doing everything in their incompetence to ruin the image of this club beyond repair. Season after season they’re making Milan environment insufferable and toxic for both coaches and players.
The only clown here is you who just believes everything he reads
What I wrote doesn’t stand only for this report. It’s a sum up of the sh*thousery created throughout 3 season by the incompetent ownership. Clown.
I think it takes a little bit of time to know ur players
I mean he was Aht milan barely a couple of day & won the supper cup–The Italian cup awaits 2-In less than 5 months NOT BAD—What do they want
HE IS A KEEPER
I so much like Conceicao’s decision of course… I wish him the best of luck in whatever steps he takes after his contract with us expires
Everyone makes it sound like we have already won the coppa italia. Bologna have been far better than us all season and let’s be real. Conceicao can say whatever he wants he failed at milan. 3 months of poor football nothing can make it better
You must be a big fool to think conceicao ia not a good coach or hasn’t done well or to deserve a renewal.
He’s a goat 🐐, I mean the animal called goat.
You are right bro!
Its funny like every journalist know how Conceicao want to leave club 😀 two months ego he say its dream to be in club like Milan and now he say everyone he wants to leave 😀 give him a break. Let’s see,what happend. Maybe we win coppa italia and in good enthusiasm he sign for another year… and maybe he is just tired of Seria A and how hard league it is and just want to leave to another club… only he knows what he want
Nicely written article.
I do not care about milan this season. It makes me sad.
That’s a nonsense thing to say. You only care for the club if they’re winning. That’s pretty soft on your part. Kinda spineless like some accuse management of being…
This article didn’t say anything and its pure conjecture. Until officially we have a Sport Dir nothin is said he will interview conceicao, evaluate options….and will know
Sarri, allegri, ancelotti it’s too old bro..
It’s time to palladino, nesta, gilardino / Italiano.
if i we’re Milan management, I did prefer stay with conceicao. He already build the basic formation with all these players that he didn’t choice.
Formation will fall apart once he leaves. Whoever comes in next if it ain’t a top coach who can immediately garner respect of the players, will have just as much trouble in getting through to these players.
The players will be frustrated, the coach will be frustrated.
Results will go to shit again. Clench up and get ready for Year Zero 3.0 lads, because that’s what it’s going to be. Might make Europe, but definitely not UCL.
No coach out there outside of the most established ones would be able to take over the current Milan and have it continue to run and improve EXACTLY as it needs to. Players are going to have to adapt to new formations/coaching methods/etc.
And don’t give me that crap about Conte/Sarri/Allegri can fix this team. Sure they might, but not in a month or two’s time. Give them half a season before you see improvement in results.
Well said… Give him one more season..
Start from the pre season….
Sourceless theory.
If this is true, then Sergio should never attempt to coach a big club again. Pressure is pressure, and I’m sorry Porto is not a club on the level of Milan.
I understand how he feels, but I still think that the relationship can probably be salvaged. While winning the Coppa would help, I still don’t think any better clubs than Milan will be beating down his door to hire him. So if the desire is there to bring him back then I still think it will make the most sense for both parties.