Conceiçao opens up about Milan personality and sacking rumours after derby draw | OneFootball

Milan coach Sergio Conceiçao demands more personality from his players and jokes about sacking rumours: ‘I still have luggage in my car.’

Conceiçao’s Milan picked up a 1-1 draw against city rivals Inter on Sunday.

They had taken the lead in the first half through Tijjani Reijnders but saw Stefan de Vrij score a late equaliser in the stoppages.

Conceiçao wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance of his team.

“We tried to press a bit higher in the first half, but nobody thought the same way, so we left important space for counter-attacks,” he told DAZN.

“We prepared for this game a bit differently. I like high pressing and not allowing the opponents to come out with the ball. We scored after Tammy won the ball high up the pitch. We must work on this. We had the right attitude, but we have work to do. We all agree on this.”

Conceiçao opens up about Milan personality and sacking rumours after derby draw

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, gives the team instructions during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Conceiçao expected the team to have more personality with the ball but replaced Ismael Bennacer during the half-time break.

“Bennacer is a very interesting player technically, but I needed different characteristics in midfield,” explained the Rossoneri boss.

“We were in a numerical disadvantage with two players against three. We needed more physicality, so I put Jimenez on the wings and Musah in the middle.

“We could have done some things differently in the first half regarding ability and desire to have the ball. I understand the moments and the environment, but we must be stronger than this. We are at Milan and the players here must take this responsibility to keep the ball and stop the opponents, not allowing them to reach our goal too often.

“I’ve had a team with these characteristics in the past. It’s true that the time is not enough. There have been rumours about my future, but I’ve just arrived.

“I still have the luggage in my car – Conceiçao continued smiling – and they [media] want to send me away already.”

Italian media reported earlier this week that some players were unhappy with Conceiçao’s methods, so the club could activate an option to terminate the coach’s contract at the end of the season.

“There has been a lot of noise, but some things are not true,” the Portuguese continued.

“The important thing was to prove personality, ambition and desire to win a game that meant more than a game. We must have this consistency in the league and other competitions.”

Lastly, Conceiçao was asked to comment on his compatriot Rafael Leao, who contributed to Milan’s opening goal.

“We want consistency for the team and individual players, including Leao,” said Conceiçao.

“He’s extraordinary in some moments of the game. Other times, he must understand that he’s part of the collective and must be alert in those moments as well. If he understands this, he’ll become one of the best players in the world. You learn this every day, not just on the matchday.”

Milan’s next game is against Roma at San Siro on Wednesday in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.