Conceiçao Is Growing Frustrated Despite Another Milan Comeback Win

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It almost ended in another disappointing evening for AC Milan and Sérgio Conceiçao in the Italian Serie A but they had to come from a goal down to secure another comeback win away to Como as they continue their resurgence under the new manager.

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For the former Porto coach, he reiterated that while his team showed ‘character’ for their comeback win, he is frustrated. ‘I can talk for two hours, but if they don’t get it into their heads…’ The Rossoneri once again had to complete a comeback under their new coach.

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The Rossoneri have made it a real habit under this tactician to complete second half comebacks, just like the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus and Inter, whereas they were held to a 1-1 draw in Serie A by Cagliari. Como had taken the lead on the hour mark through Assane Diao at the near post.

But Theo Hernandez saw his shinned volley loop into the far top corner, then Tammy Abraham sent Rafael Leao through to dink it over the on-rushing keeper. Conceicao was extremely brief and ill-tempered in the pre-match interview, so has he calmed down a bit? “I was boiling up on the touchline,” he told Sky Sport Italia and DAZN.

“I am also not accustomed to doing pre-match interviews, I don’t even speak to my family for 2-3 hours before a match, let alone the media, but there are rules and I must get used to it. “It was a lot of suffering, because we were up against a good team with fine players and they are well-drilled.

“We prepare for games with video lessons and whiteboards, but don’t get time to work in training on the pitch and we are missing a lot of things. We need to be far more present with attacking and defending duels. “In any case, we always see a good reaction and it is easier to work when we have positive results to build on.

“There is a lot that needs to be improved, we cannot always allow 5-6 scoring opportunities.” Conceicao said the first half against Cagliari was the worst in his 13 years of management, so did he see any improvement in Como? “We are playing against quality opponents and are going to struggle if we don’t do what we prepared.

“It went better after the break, especially after we conceded the goal. We’ve got to be more solid as a unit, we cannot allow the opponents to keep passing it around us so easily. “I tell the lads, the foundations of football are solidity. If you do not concede, then with the quality at our disposal, we will score eventually.

“In four games, we have completed a comeback three times to win, so that means there is character. We can improve physically, tactically, technically and in terms of attitude. “I can talk for two hours, but if they don’t get it into their heads, then it becomes difficult,” continued Conceicao.

“We need more pressing, more intensity, a lot of work to be done. We have clear ideas, but the players were not accustomed to a certain type of work. They think that if they press high, then they end up running more. That is not true, you run less. This is my whole philosophy of football.

“Naturally, we also have a lot of players who do not have these characteristics, so we are trying to change them. We have everything to gain.” Ismael Bennacer had his second start under Conceicao, but in both situations he was substituted at half-time, so does he not quite fit in that midfield with Youssouf Fofana?

“Isma went off because he was on a yellow card and it was risky in midfield, but it is also true that he and Fofana need to improve the way they occupy the space with and without the ball.” There was bad news too for Milan, because Christian Pulisic and Malick Thiaw both went off with muscular issues.

Then Alvaro Morata was booked and will therefore be suspended for Saturday’s Serie A showdown with Juventus. “Morata also had a muscular problem and we preferred not to risk it. We’re checking the work that was done before we got here, we need to improve in our fitness levels too, because we need intensity for my football.

“And at this moment we are missing something,” concluded Conceiçao. For Theo Hernandez, he admitted that it is emotional to ‘surpass my idol’ Paolo Maldini in the Milan history books, but the victory over Como had problems for the new coach to sort out.

With his equalizing goal, Hernandez became the most prolific ever Milan defender in Serie A with 30 goals, leaving Maldini behind on 29. “I am very happy to make history here,” the France international told DAZN. “Milan gave me such a warm welcome from the first day, so to surpass my idol Paolo Maldini is incredible.

“Now we must keep going like this and I want to continue scoring many goals for this club.” Although the comebacks do show character, the Rossoneri are also conceding the opening goal far too often. “I think we need to improve the way we start matches, as we tend to be too sluggish and that is not right.

“In the second half, we had more intensity and aggression.” Milan are climbing back up the Serie A standings now and the showdown with Juventus on Saturday is going to say a lot about their ambitions for this season. “The table is not reassuring at all. We are Milan, we ought to be right up there,” added Theo Hernandez.

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“We went through a difficult moment, but with the Supercoppa victory and this game, we hope to earn a place in the Champions League.” He concluded. After the game against Juve, they will then turn their attention towards Europe where they will face Girona and badly in need of a win to help them qualify for the next round of the competition.

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