Several pundits believe that AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has not had the desired impact from a tactical point of view and therefore could leave at the end of the season.
Conceicao arrived at the end of December to try and rescue what has been a difficult campaign for Milan, especially in Serie A. The results have improved with an average of two points per game in the league since he came in, yet a lot of the inconsistencies remain.
As a reminder, Conceicao signed an 18-month contract with Milan when he replaced Paulo Fonseca but there is a break clause in favour of the club after six months, i.e. at the end of the current campaign.
As Calciomercato.com report, there continues to be some concern about whether Conceicao has a long-term future at the club or even one beyond June. On Sunday evening, journalist Carlo Pellegatti commented on Pressing on Canale 5.
“The best player on the pitch in Pioli’s Milan was not Leao, but the style of play that allowed them to win a league title, finishing ahead of Inter.” His colleague Riccardo Trevisani agrees: “Pioli was better than Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceiçao, who I think he will say goodbye to at the end of the season.”
On Sky Calcio Club, Fabio Caressa revealed something interesting: “According to what we understand, the club didn’t take Conceiçao going to the funeral of the former president of Porto [Pinto da Costa] very well.
“After all his statements, aren’t you pushing the envelope too much? On Tuesday at San Siro there’s the match against Feyenoord in the Champions League… Leao, who is often criticised, is first among Milan players for expected goals without penalties, shots and expected assists.”
He is referencing the fact that Conceicao opted to return to Portugal to attend Pinto da Costa’s funeral after learning of his passing on Saturday night after the game against Verona. Zlatan Ibrahimovic even admitted the coach was ’emotional’, having been very close to him.
Former Inter defender Beppe Bergomi echoed Caressa: “Conceiçao uses Leao as a strategic weapon, when he puts him on the bench it’s not as a punishment, but because when he comes on he makes a difference.”
