Sergio Conceicao Voices Concern About AC Milan's Mentality Following Juventus Defeat

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Sergio Conceicao expressed concern over AC Milan's performance following a 2-0 loss to Juventus, marking his first defeat since taking charge last month. Conceicao began his tenure with a 2-1 win against Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final, a tournament Milan eventually won in Saudi Arabia. Despite this success, recent results have been mixed.

After their title victory, Milan drew with Cagliari and secured a win over Como. However, goals from Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah led to their league defeat against Thiago Motta's team. This loss means Milan has failed to score in only two of their last 30 Serie A away matches, both times against Juventus, with the previous instance occurring in April 2024.

Milan managed just three shots on Michele Di Gregorio's goal, ending the match with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.97 at Allianz Stadium. The result leaves them eighth in the standings, six points behind the Champions League spots. Conceicao acknowledged the need for changes moving forward.

"I am the coach and I have to change things," Conceicao stated during a press conference. "I am responsible for this defeat and I will work to find a solution to avoid such moments in the future. It's a possible mission." He emphasized that everyone must reflect on their roles and responsibilities within the team.

Conceicao is now focusing on the Champions League as Milan prepares for a match against Girona at San Siro. Currently sitting 12th in the new 36-team table, they are just one point shy of the top eight positions. Their final fixture of this phase will be against Dinamo Zagreb.

Despite having overseen only five games across all competitions, Conceicao admitted he was worried about his players after their latest setback. "I'm thinking about what I can do to change the atmosphere in the dressing room and around the team," he added.

Need for Improvement

The coach stressed that improvements are necessary as they compete in the league, Champions League, and Italian Cup. "We must improve, reflect on our current situation and consider changes in the dressing room environment," Conceicao remarked.

As AC Milan navigates these challenges under Conceicao's leadership, adjustments are crucial for achieving better results in upcoming matches across various competitions.