Conceicao: ‘It’s not easy to be the coach of Milan, rumours started after one draw’
Conceicao: ‘It’s not easy to be the coach of Milan, rumours started after one draw’ Sergio Conceicao admits that it is ‘not easy’ to be the head coach of Milan, especially in a difficult period for the Rossoneri, and says that he and his players could have benefitted from more protection from the club during the second half of the 2024-25 campaign. Conceicao replaced compatriot Paulo Fonseca as head coach of the Rossoneri on December 30, 2024, signing a contract until the end of the 2025-26 season that included a break clause, which Milan decided to activate at the end of the 2024-25 season after missing out on European qualification altogether. Conceicao has since returned to management with Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, but has recently sat down with La Repubblica to discuss his time in charge of the Rossoneri.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on from the dugout prior to the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Conceicao reflects on Milan tenure: ‘We needed a lot of protection from the club’ Conceicao managed to win the Supercoppa Italiana within his first two matches in charge of Milan, and also led the team to the Coppa Italia final a few months later, but oversaw a disappointing eighth-place finish in the league. “We played every three days, we trained during matches.
There was lots of video, not a lot of work on the pitch, but I’m not complaining. I knew the schedule when I signed,” Conceicao said in reflection of his time in San Siro. “But they were six positive months,” he continued.
“We made it to two finals. We lost one, it’s true, but it could have gone differently. ” ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Sergio Conceicao walks past the Coppa Italia trophy after the team’s defeat in the Coppa Italia Final match against Bologna at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2025 in Rome, Italy.
(Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images) There is no denying that there is a weight of expectation at a club like Milan, though. “It’s not easy to be the Milan coach,” said Conceicao. “It’s a team that is historically used to playing at the highest levels and winning in Champions League finals.