Conceicao lifts lid on time at Milan including what went wrong: “There was instability”

Sergio Conceicao has reflected on his time at AC Milan, admitting that the atmosphere inside the club was not the best.

It was just under one year ago that Milan made the decision to sack Paulo Fonseca and hire Conceicao. He achieved instant success by winning the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia, beating Juventus and Inter in comebacks.

The former Porto boss ended up taking charge of 31 games with Milan across all competitions. He won 16 of them, with five draws and 10 defeats. The Supercoppa win would be the highlight, while the Coppa Italia defeat to Bologna ended up sealing his fate.

‘There were things I didn’t like’

Conceicao spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport to left the lid on what happened in his few months at Milan, also insisting that he will return to Serie A at some point.

Last year, you came, you saw and you conquered…

“Indeed, yes. I remember days of intense work, focusing on video analysis, motivation, and speeches to get straight into the players’ heads. We beat my son Cisco’s Juventus and then Inter, coming from behind. And I cried.”

And after the victory, a nice cigar…

“A promise. The players, who had seen videos, asked me to smoke it if we won. I had done it 11 times with Porto, that is, after winning trophies. The coach who won the most. So I did it again.”

And who would you offer one to this evening?

“I have no favouritism, and I don’t even want to talk about players because then they’ll write about us being interested in them in a moment. I’ll watch the match; Bologna and Napoli are great to watch. The match between Conte and Italiano is an advert for football.

“Antonio is obsessed, like me, and in fact obsession trumps talent. Vincenzo, on the other hand, plays good football, so much so that last year we lost the Coppa Italia final to him. A big regret.”

A summary of your six months at Milan?

“Positive. From 2016 to today, only two coaches have won trophies with AC Milan: Pioli, with the Scudetto, and myself. If we add up the points from our time, we’ve had a Europa League pace, fifth place.

“The results were there: I’m thinking of the two derby wins and the victory against Roma. It’s disappointing about the Coppa Italia final, but there were some things I didn’t like.”

Like what?

“There was instability at club level, the atmosphere around the team wasn’t good. That’s why I hold on to what we did. Furthermore, the management didn’t support me. I’ll give you an example: after winning the Supercoppa we played against Cagliari.

“At that time, there were already rumours that the club was pursuing other coaches. I was focused on working and winning, with the weight of results. I didn’t have time to work at all levels.”

Would you have stayed?

“Yes, but with some changes.”

Did the players betray you?

“Never, in fact, they were with me. Theo also said it in the interview you did: after the Feyenoord game, when people said he’d deliberately gotten himself sent off, I defended him. Many wrote to me when I left.

“I demand rigour, exacting standards, and then relaxation when it’s time to relax. If someone shows up a kilo overweight, arrives late, or anything like that, I can’t tolerate that. For me, in the end, all players are the same.”

Can you tell us your most significant speech?

“In 2012, at Olhanense, I studied my players’ passions and hobbies, something I always do. Before a match, for Father’s Day, I showed a video of the fathers talking about themselves.

“There were people crying, then they went onto the pitch and… 2-0 to the opponents. When I returned to the dressing room, I changed my story and went back to being a sergeant: we drew 2-2.”

Where does your faith come from?

“I lost my father at 16 in a motorcycle accident, my mother at 18 after a long struggle, and then a brother; I was the seventh of eight. Faith gave me strength and peace of mind.

“I want to show my parents that I’m here and that I’ve achieved all my dreams. But deep inside me, hidden, I have and always will have something dark, like a shadow.”

And is it for your parents?

“Yes. I have the photos with me and I pray for them every day. I’m a happy man, I have five children, I played and now I coach, but I know I’ll never be completely happy without my parents. That’s the hole inside me.”

Your children fill that gap a bit, though…

“Of course. Francisco is now at Juve and is doing well.”

Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Do you talk about football at home?

“As little as possible. The important thing is that they leave their phones in their pockets at dinner. I also required this at Porto and Milan. Cisco made his debut with me in Portugal. In 2020, during the lockdown, I told him: ‘If you’re hungry… then drink water.’ He was a bit chubby.

“Making a difference requires sacrifice and a good mentality. If I could, I’d lend him my hunger. Not that he doesn’t have it, on the contrary, but at 16 I brought home money to eat; it was different. But I’ve always believed in it. And he believes in it too.”

You won 11 trophies in seven years at Porto…

“The relationship with Da Costa was top-notch. When I arrived, the club hadn’t won for four seasons. We sold €600m of players and also did well in the Champions League, where teams would say, ‘Oh, Porto is in the round of 16…’. And yet we even managed to hurt the Italian teams: Juve, Roma, Lazio…”

Who tried to hire you?

“I’ve had contact with Lazio, but not only that. And even before signing for Al-Itthiad, I had offers. The league here is competitive, the ambitions are high, and we train in the afternoon, not the morning. You have to adapt to the cultural dynamics. But this is a challenge, and I love challenges like that.”

And would you return to Italy?

“Sure, I already know I will.”