After the game between AC Milan and Feyenoord, with the latter prevailing on aggregate, Sergio Conceicao shared his thoughts with the media. He took on full responsibility for the disappointing outcome.
Milan took the lead after less than a minute through Santiago Gimenez, who’s now on three goals in the last four games, and they continued to create chances after that. Before they could grab a second, however, Theo Hernandez was sent off for a simulation (second yellow).
Naturally, that changed the game and Feyenoord were able to find the crucial equaliser. Speaking to Sky Italia after the game, as transcribed by MilanNews, Conceicao took on full responsibility for the Champions League failure while defending Theo.
On the game…
“The disappointment is huge, we are all angry. We knew we were stronger. We made a mistake in Rotterdam and we prepared this one to win: we didn’t see how they could get to our goal, and we missed the second goal on several occasions.
“We are also to blame and now we have to think about the league. We have to be stronger and work harder. We played for a long time without a man in Zagreb and today: Theo’s red card changed the game, up until that moment they hadn’t created a chance.”
What do you think of Theo’s sending off?
“Today is a defeat for me. In the previous years, I made the round of 16 five times in six years with Porto: I made so many mistakes that you can’t imagine. My players also make mistakes, but the face of this elimination belongs to Sergio Conceicao and not Theo.”
Why did you take off Gimenez?
“The decision is mine. I made it because he arrived a week ago. If you remember he had a small problem before arriving. He played even risking injury. Why not Abraham? At that moment we were a man down, I wanted to start again.”
Could any changes have been anticipated?
“Yes, every coach sees the game in his own way. Changing for the sake of changing is not worth it, I have to understand what they can give at that moment of the game.”
Two silly red cards: a lack of maturity?
“There are definitely many things to improve on, including this. Sometimes being emotionally strong is the main thing. I understand the pressure of these big clubs and internally there is this work to be done: externally the environment doesn’t help the players either…”
Why is Theo so inconsistent?
“I’ve known him for a long time and I know he can do much more. His coach can do more too.”
Conceicao and Milan will now have to focus on securing a top-four finish in Serie A, otherwise they will miss out on the next edition of the Champions League. That would obviously be a huge disaster.
