Sergio Conceicao has suggested that his players are feeling the negative atmosphere that surrounds AC Milan and it is translating into poor results.
It was yet another night to forget for Milan in a season that has yielded few positive memories. Conceicao’s side played terribly in the first half, were reduced to 10 men in the second and finally showed character to find the equaliser through Samuel Chukwueze.
However, there was late drama with a penalty awarded to Lazio deep into added time and converted in the 98th minute by Pedro, allowing them to snatch all three points. Questionable refereeing aside, it is yet another damaging result for Milan, who are now ninth in the table.
Conceicao spoke to DAZN after the full-time whistle to give his thoughts on the latest blow that the Diavolo have suffered, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
What is your mood? Can you still give something to this group?
“The moment is not easy at all, we know that. The players feel what is going on around the club. There is only one way: to work and have the maximum pride for these colours that we defend, giving our all every day to change the situation.
“There are also episodes that happen during the match, negative for us and decisive for the opponent, but I don’t want to talk about bad luck.”
Why does a team with its back to the wall have such a difficult approach?
“We always talk about the same thing. We prepared the match in a very short time, we talked about this atmosphere and it was strange: first time it’s happened to me in my career. The players feel it: I was a player and we know that when it’s like this the boots are hot.
“It’s not easy: when a dribble, a pass and the opponent scores a goal… The team showed great character when they were left with ten men, we could have even won. In the end this penalty happened.
“The players give me positive answers. One thing is between us in training, after it is entering a difficult situation that has been there since the beginning of the season. We try to work on this too, not only on a tactical and physical level.”
One thing: running backwards. When they have to go forward, some players go fast, but when they have to go backwards, they never get to that speed…
“Very important. We are working on that too. Now the game is played with the ball to try to dismantle the opponent’s defensive organisation and when you don’t have the ball you have to have the same availability: sometimes we struggle on this point.
“It’s all related: if you are strong in defensive transitions, you are also strong when you attack. I think there are players who are good technically and can make the difference on an attacking level but they have to get it into their heads that they are important for the team in defence too.
“We need to find an important balance to win games, because we have the technical qualities”
