{"id":6512,"date":"2025-01-12T01:20:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-12T01:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/conceicao-milan-had-worst-first-half-of-my-13-years-as-coach\/"},"modified":"2025-01-12T01:20:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-12T01:20:28","slug":"conceicao-milan-had-worst-first-half-of-my-13-years-as-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betwealthsuretips.com\/blog\/conceicao-milan-had-worst-first-half-of-my-13-years-as-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Conceicao: ‘Milan had worst first half of my 13 years as coach’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"MILAN,<\/picture><\/div>\n

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, gives instructions to Tammy Abraham of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sergio Conceicao claims the first half against Cagliari was \u2018probably the worst in my 13 years as coach,\u2019 warning he is \u2018angry\u2019 at Milan\u2019s 1-1 draw. \u2018Football is simple.\u2019<\/p>\n

The coach had the ideal start to his Rossoneri experience after replacing Paulo Fonseca on December 30, winning both games in charge against Juventus and Inter to lift the Supercoppa Italiana in Riyadh.<\/p>\n

However, the old problems reared their ugly head again in Serie A with this disappointing 1-1 draw against relegation battlers Cagliari.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected much, much more in every area. Considering the quality of the squad at my disposal, the first half was probably the worst I\u2019ve had in my 13 years as coach, to be honest,\u201d Conceicao told Sky Sport Italia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lacked vivacity, the tempo was too slow, Cagliari had everyone in the final third to defend their goal, that is their strategy, but we should\u2019ve done what we prepared to find those spaces. We were not smart enough to do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second half was better, we had 25 shots on goal, Cagliari started time-wasting, I realise this is the strategy in Italy, that\u2019s not a problem, but the referee has to give more than five minutes of added time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not an excuse, nor is the fatigue from the Supercoppa, we should\u2019ve done more, but these are still factors I cannot ignore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Milan 1-1 Cagliari<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alvaro Morata had opened the scoring when meeting the rebound from Christian Pulisic\u2019s effort off the woodwork, but within four minutes the Sardinians had equalised when Mike Maignan let a Nadir Zortea counter-attack squirm through his grasp.<\/p>\n

They had numerous opportunities, but failed to finish them off, largely thanks to the heroics of new Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile.<\/p>\n

Conceicao inherited Milan problems<\/h2>\n
\"MILAN,
MILAN, ITALY \u2013 JANUARY 11: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Cagliari at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Milan were also held 3-3 by Cagliari in November, so considering the fightback in the Supercoppa, is this an issue of focus in the big games that is lacking here?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of everything. It\u2019s mentality, physique, a lot of work we need to do in order to improve, because there were spells in that game I did not like at all. A draw is dropping two points. I am angry because we didn\u2019t do what we had prepared, so we need to do a lot of work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t have enough width or movement. Rafael Leao against two or three, he needs support and different movement from those to provide him with options. The same goes for Pulisic on the other side and the full-backs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milan have two games in hand, but the fact remains they have only won seven Serie A matches this season, drawn seven and lost four.<\/p>\n

Among the biggest problems this season is the inability to finish off the attacking moves. Are the forwards too generous compared to some of the \u2018greedy\u2019 centre-forwards that Conceicao was teammates with in his Serie A career?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe strikers are altruistic and that is a good thing, I like that. There are times when they need to keep it simple, it feels like they always want the magic touch, the difficult move. Football is a simple sport, sometimes we try to make it too difficult and that\u2019s not right. Football is simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were reports this week that Conceicao introduced new rules at the Milanello training ground, including strict routines and keeping the squad in a hotel the night before a match.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is how I have done things for many years. These are simple things, being involved on a daily basis to improve. If I was hired mid-season, it means something needed to be improved. If we are rigorous off the field with timing and organisation, then we can be more rigorous and organised on the pitch too,\u201d concluded Conceicao.<\/p>\n