Conceicao reflects on complicated Milan tenure: “I didn’t choose the players” | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao reflected on the difficultites of coaching AC Milan at a recent event, highlighting why everything has been made more complicated by the mid-season aspect.

Taking over a club mid-season, often in a difficult situation, is a tricky job for any manager. Conceicao was hired at the end of 2024 and only had a few days to prepare for the Supercoppa Italiana, a tournament he went on to win.

Since then, however, the tenure has been filled with difficulties and at the Coimbra Football Congress 2025 event, Conceicao reflected on his adventure so far. Among other things, he stated that not having picked the players makes implementing his style more complicated.

“I knew the difficulties I would encounter. I didn’t choose the players, I had no time to train and there was an obligation to win. However, it’s a historic club that can give me the opportunity to get closer to one of the objectives of my career, after having won so much in Portugal,” he stated.

Conceicao certainly makes a good point as another pre-season would have been needed to see proper changes, but it’s also true that he has made some strange decisions. Focusing on the core of the team would have been the logical step, but the identity remains a bit uncertain.