GdS: Reassurances and passion – why Conceicao believes in top four comeback

SempreMilan

·30 March 2025

GdS: Reassurances and passion – why Conceicao believes in top four comeback

Sergio Conceicao is not giving up on the idea of AC Milan making the Champions League, and a statement result against Napoli could help.

Conceiçao says he is no longer a child and in fact football has raised him, first as a player and now as a coach. He knows all the dynamics of the field perfectly: he knows that as long as hope fuels the Champions League climb, Milan have the duty to believe in it.

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And he knows equally well that a coach is judged by the results. There are no extenuating circumstances in eyes, even though he took over mid-season with a crowded schedule. The table will issue the verdict.

Without the Champions League, or at least the Europa League, Conceiçao will be effectively condemned to farewell. And Milan will start a new sporting course without the prize money from UEFA.

Reassurances

Hope comes from Maradona: the Champions League is nine points away and therefore Milan would need a triple jump. Not impossible acrobatics, even if Conceiçao will try by giving up his most spectacular player, Rafa Leao.

Sergio will rely on Joao Felix, who spent the last month as a reserve. The former Chelsea player was tested this week in place of the No.10. Conceiçao stressed his belief on the eve of the game in his press conference.

“If I didn’t believe in it, I wouldn’t be here. The environment is good and healthy, with the desire to have a finale at the level of Milan. Ibrahimovic at Milanello? Yes, but he won’t be able to play, he’s out,” he joked.

“We talk to the management every day. I have to talk about what concerns the players and nothing else. I don’t need reassurances, I’m here to do the best job possible. I don’t need trust. Let me say one thing: I have to work, I don’t have this weakness of having someone to give me reassurances.

“I don’t need it, I know I depend on the results. I’m not a child who needs his dad to tell him he loves him. I know I have two goals: the Coppa Italia and fourth place. Plus the Supercoppa that we won. And the disappointment in the Champions League that remains.”

In the meantime, speaking of cup qualifications, Tudor’s win on his Juventus debut has brought the Europa League places to eight points away. For this reason, Conceiçao absolutely needs points in tonight’s game.

Passion

The obstacle is not a small one. Naples is the second highest peak in Italy and its coach, Conte, is an imposing figure. Conceiçao recalls: “I have challenged Antonio many times as a footballer. As a coach it is the first: it will be very difficult but we must not hide our objectives.

“We have worked to win. Conte and I have the same passion for the profession, we live life intensely. Then each one has his own characteristics, I am different from him.” For this reason, when asked if Sergio feels like ‘the Portuguese Conte’, he replied with a dry ‘no’.

Conceiçao asserts his own personality. The one that has allowed him to make tough choices, to get back up after the falls and now to continue to believe in the recovery. For tonight, the only focus.

“In my experience, if we prepare two games together then things don’t go well. So we have concentrated on Naples, then we will think about the Coppa Italia,” Conceicao added. He will look at the derby Wednesday from tomorrow.