The idea of another trophy this season for AC Milan is great. However, it could be a double edged sword in the grand scheme.
For the past few months, all of Milan’s hopes of a good season have rested on the Coppa Italia with European football seeming further and further away in Serie A. Now, we have reached the point of proof, and there is a lingering feeling of worry.
By all accounts, the Rossoneri are in a good place. But the bigger picture is taking some peoples minds astray, as Calciomercato.com reports.
Should a sixth Coppa Italia arrive, discussions would need to be had about Sergio Conceicao’s future, despite the fact that things have seemed to be heading in one direction for months now – which people are not against.
That decision will be made by the Portuguese though, and the signs do not point in the Rossoneri’s favour. There is a fear that his words this summer, should he leave, could be explosive, which would not help the grand scheme of things.
Success here could also see the management decide against a restructuring, which has been heavily discussed. In fact, it could even be viewed as a waste of time and resources if the club go back on the decision now.
The big fear is that another trophy would not change the view of the season across the fanbase. On paper, two trophies is superb, but the context of the season murks the water. For this reason the fans are split. After all, there are a number of things that one game could decide, and not all of it is positive.
The question is that, if Conceicao leaves, whether the management will again try to find cheaper option for the replacement, like when they sacked Pioli. If that’s the case, I think better that Conceicao gets extension and given more chance, maybe for 1 more year at least, especially if he can get Coppa Italia. Yes, it is not fancy trophy, but who knows, he might be just a new Simone Inzaghi, who was initially regarded as just “Coppa manager”, but proven to be consistent in high level for several seasons in all competition with Inter.
And also, it is totally not easy to take over in the middle of season. So I cant totally 100% put my finger on him for the Milan’s shitty season.
We don’t need to extend him. There is an option until 2026. The question is how the option is structured. Is it a unilateral option in favor of the club, or does the coach have the ability to decline it? It it an option in favor of the coach, i.e. is it his sole decision? Even if it in favor of the club, he can still quit…
While I’m not convinced by Conceicao, it may be best to pick up the option if he wins the Coppa Italia. It would mean qualification to the EL and we’ve also been trending in the right direction to finish the league season. Then we’ll see what happens with a full pre-season and some kind of transfer campaign. If he’s got the club within the top 4 come December/January, then extend him right then and there. If we’re right outside the top 4, maybe wait until the end of the season to decide on an extension, if he qualifies us for top 4 then extend, if we just miss out in the end he walks when the contract is up in 2026. Instead, if we’re languishing in mid-table again come December/January, fire him and find someone else.
I considered Conceição a very good coach before Milan hired him, wanted him after milan missed on Motta, and with a proper pre season and a transfer window tailored to his ideas of football, targeted players being brought in, players who are cancers and don’t fit his style of football let go, he can still be a good coach for Milan. It’s not like there are many better coaches available out there. I am not judging him based on these 4,5 turbulent months where he came in mid season, in a mess, a broken and void of leadership locker room, and a media frenzy against him.
Carlo Ancelotti was hired mid season in his first year, when he came in to replace Terim, and it didn’t look good either. He even came in early, like after 10 games. Conceição came in January, with half of the season gone.
Unless there is a better option, he deserves a fresh start, if he actually wants it.
All the people now supporting him because he’s gotten incredibly lucky in some results where the team has played terribly, please tell me if you think the team has actually played well under Conceicao? And when?
He’s coached probably close to thirty games now, can you tell me more than 2 games where the team actually played well the entire match? Where we didn’t get completely outplayed in the first half and had to mount some desperate comeback? Even in our wins we don’t play well. He gets his tactics wrong to start every match and the only way the team can create anything is when they go all-out attack after they fall behind. We have been very lucky to have gotten the wins we have but this is not a sustainable way to play.
I agree, but it’s more complicated than this. See my post above. I think if he wins the Coppa Italia, and we win our final league games, that he should get the chance to start the next season. I just have zero confidence in our management being able to actually find someone better. The chances that they’ll hire another sub-par coach and that we’ll find ourselves mid-table once again in December are very high.
I would take just about anyone over Conceicao. I would take Italiano over him. The way Bologna has played is much more impresive than Milan. Gasperini for sure. Sarri.
The odds of us finding a better coach are better than the odds that we continue to get results while playing this poorly and falling behind every single match. The luck will surely run out. Also I just think his style of play is ugly and not good to watch.