GdS: ‘He knows how to do it’ – why Milan can believe in a sprint finish from Conceicao

SempreMilan

·26 Maret 2025

GdS: ‘He knows how to do it’ – why Milan can believe in a sprint finish from Conceicao

One thing that has been a running theme through Sergio Conceicao’s managerial career is finishing seasons strongly, and AC Milan hope that continues.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, one example can be found in the 2022-23 season. His Porto side failed to win the league title, but with nine games to go they were 10 points behind league leaders Benfica and then finished at just two points off them.

Video OneFootball

How? They put together an incredible nine wins out of nine, amassing 27 points out of 27. In addition, on June 4, 2023, Conceiçao also lifted the Taça do Portugal (the national cup) by beating Braga 2-0 in the final.

Now, if his Milan could replicate a similar streak, fourth place that is worth the Champions League would be possible, perhaps even probable. And if he could also add the icing on the cake of the Coppa Italia. Italy, however, is not Portugal, and the mission will certainly be more complicated.

A sprint finish

Regardless of his level, Conceiçao has often and willingly been able to accelerate close to the finish line. A bit like those sprinters in cycling who excel in the final stretch. First of all in the three league titles won with Porto (2017-18, 2019-20 and 2021-22).

But not only that: with the exception of the last season (2023-24), at the helm of the Dragao, Sergio has always put at least 22 points in the bag in the last nine rounds, never worsening the position in the table.

When he was first he maintained first place, when he was not he never slipped lower than where he was. And in four years out of seven he also managed to lift the Portuguese Cup. A clear sign that his teams finished without the fuel light on.

The hope is that it will happen to Milan too and the last two victories – in second-half comebacks against Lecce and Como – could consolidate the idea that the Rossoneri are growing physically and mentally.

Without European competitions, then, Conceiçao will be able to work more with the squad, a need expressed several times by the coach himself. Wanting to be optimistic and thinking of a spot in the Coppa Italia final in Rome on May 14, there would be three weeks of double commitments.

Of course, the derby against Inter in the semis will not be easy. Yet, between the pursuit of the Champions League and those two legs, the Portuguese coach is playing his remaining chances of convincing the Rossoneri management to keep him. Is it complicated? Yes, but not impossible.

Pressures

Conceiçao must also live with an environment he has known for less than four months and whose pressures are not comparable to those of Porto, except perhaps last season, in which the club’s presidential elections heralded stormy winds. Milano is Milano and Milan are Milan.

“After winning the Supercoppa against Inter, we drew against Cagliari due to an individual error, as can happen. Since then, every day they bring new coaches to the club,” Conceicao complained at the Coimbra Football Congress 2025 last week.

As if the team’s ups and downs of results were not enough to torment his sleep, here come the ghosts of Allegri and co. to give him the shivers. Conceiçao will not be able to call the Ghostbusters: the only way to chase away the ghosts is to win, and do so as much as possible.

Looking on the bright side, the ex-Porto man has nothing to lose. He has already won a trophy with the Rossoneri (the Supercoppa), he has the chance to repeat the feat with the Coppa Italia and when December 30th arrived, Milan were already out of the European zone.

Even if he were not to be kept, few would point the finger at him as the sole culprit for the failure, something that should allow him to feel a bit more peace of mind.