AC Milan's Lack Of Aggression Contributes To Defeat Against Dinamo Zagreb In Champions League

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Sergio Conceicao acknowledged AC Milan's lack of aggression in their Champions League loss to Dinamo Zagreb, which prevented them from securing a top-eight finish. A victory at Stadion Maksimir would have guaranteed Milan's automatic qualification for the last 16. However, they fell short and now face the play-offs. Martin Baturina put Dinamo ahead early, and Yunus Musah was sent off after receiving a second yellow card six minutes before halftime.

Musah, at 22 years and 61 days, became the youngest player to be sent off for Milan in a Champions League match. Despite this setback, his teammates managed to equalise. Christian Pulisic scored for the visitors with a powerful shot into the bottom corner after cutting in from the right. Yet, just seven minutes later, Marko Pjaca restored Dinamo's lead by scoring past Mike Maignan.

This defeat marked Milan's first-ever loss against Zagreb in all competitions, having previously won all six encounters with the Croatian side. The result left Dinamo narrowly missing out on a play-off spot while Milan finished 13th. This position means they could face PSV, Juventus, or Feyenoord in the next round. Conceicao expressed disappointment over his team's performance.

Conceicao highlighted his players' lack of desire and aggression as key factors in their defeat. "All the episodes of the match were against us," he stated during a press conference. He added that without a strong foundation, it's challenging to succeed in football, which involves constant defensive and offensive duels.

Despite these challenges, Conceicao saw positives ahead of their upcoming Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday. "I liked the second half; we tried to win it down to 10 men," he noted. Although they couldn't secure a win, he emphasised focusing on future matches and changing their current environment.

Conceicao is now concentrating on the play-off round of the competition. Despite not finishing in the top eight, he remains optimistic about Milan's prospects. "I've had a conversation with management to understand where we need improvement," he mentioned. They are seeking solutions to strengthen their team.

"We still have everything in our hands," Conceicao concluded, referring to both their league and Champions League campaigns. His focus is on finding ways to enhance their performance as they prepare for upcoming challenges.