Sérgio Conceição’s Outburst Following Disappointing Loss for AC Milan
Frustrated by his team’s performance last night against , AC Milan manager Sérgio Conceição made headlines with his candid remarks. Since taking over from Paulo Fonseca, the Portuguese coach has earned a reputation for his fiery demeanor, and following the 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, Conceição did not hold back in his criticism of the team’s lackluster display.
Despite the spotlight falling on goalkeeper Mike Maignan after a pivotal mistake, Conceição refrained from singling out players for blame. “We knew we were entering a challenging environment; they were aggressive and won many offensive and defensive duels, making it hard to secure a victory,” he explained. “We had chances that could have earned us at least a draw, but we lacked effectiveness. The goal we conceded featured an element of bad luck, but overall, we were missing aggression. The players need to recognize where they must improve, as time is of the essence. Emotionally, I remain highly motivated. The quality of our players is not only technical; we need consistency, continuity, desire, attitude, and offensive aggression. Everything is interconnected, and we must always be at our best in terms of motivation,” he shared with Sky Italia before elaborating further.
Addressing questions about his tactical decisions, Conceição remarked, “Would I choose the four forwards again? In football, I make it a point to respect everyone and everything. We prepared for this match as if it were a Champions League final, with limited time to get ready. I will never underestimate anyone, as I know the struggles it took to get here. It’s easy for us to comment after the fact, but before the match, my focus was solely on those four forwards. I understand the curiosity, but we played with eleven, and it’s my responsibility to find the right balance.”
Clearly frustrated by the media attention, Conceição recalled his past experiences with FC Nantes. After finishing a TV interview, he attended the press conference only to walk out after answering just one question. “This wasn’t a match decided by luck; we should have done more in critical moments. We had enough opportunities to equalize. That’s the gist of the match. I waited 15 minutes outside to speak, and 30 seconds is enough for me,” he stated, leaving journalists astonished.
