Sergio Conceicao Explains Tactical Gamble in Milan Hard-Fought Win | OneFootball

Serie A top-four hopefuls Milan squeezed past bottom-half Empoli in an ill-tempered fixture at Stadio Carlo Castellani last night. Head coach Sergio Conceicao explained his decision to go ‘all out attack’ in the second half despite being reduced to ten men.

After a scoreless first half, Milan lost Fikayo Tomori to an unjust second yellow card. However, only ten minutes later, referee Luca Pairetto gave Empoli center-back Luca Marianucci his marching orders for unsportsmanlike conduct after a bizarre tackle on Santiago Gimenez.

Milan grabbed the lead only three minutes after Marianucci’s expulsion as Rafael Leao headed home Christian Pulisic’s cross at the back post. The USMNT forward delivered another assist eight minutes later as Gimenez scored on his Serie A debut to put clear daylight between the sides.

A much-needed victory propelled Milan to seventh in the standings, five points off fourth-placed Juventus with a game in hand. Conceicao confirmed after the match that the Rossoneri only had victory on their minds.

“The temptation at that moment was to take off a striker and put on a defender, but I moved Musah to the right and put Kyle in central defense and Joao Felix a bit deeper,” the Milan manager told DAZN via MilanNews. “A draw here is like a defeat for Milan, so I had to take the gamble.

“With all due respect for Empoli’s aggressive nature and direct approach that shows they are well-drilled, we were the better team throughout and picked up three important points.”

Milan can’t afford to rest easy as they face Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League knockout playoff tie on Wednesday.