Conceicao Commends Udinese Fans For Their Incredible Support Of Injured Maignan

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Sergio Conceicao expressed his gratitude towards Udinese's supporters for their remarkable show of support for Mike Maignan. During AC Milan's 4-0 win at Bluenergy Stadium, Maignan was involved in a severe collision with teammate Alex Jimenez. This incident left Maignan briefly unconscious, necessitating his removal from the field on a stretcher and subsequent hospital evaluation.

Conceicao appreciated the warm reception from the home fans as Maignan received medical attention and was taken off the pitch. "It impressed me," he told Sky Sport, acknowledging the fans' gesture. "The player is one thing, and the man is another. They can boo the player, but not the man. That applause was an incredible gesture." Conceicao noted that such gestures are rare in his four decades of football experience.

This victory marked a significant turnaround for Milan, ending a streak of three games without a win and securing their first clean sheet in ten matches across all competitions. Rafael Leao and Strahinja Pavlovic scored just before halftime, while Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders added goals after the break. This win brought Milan within six points of the top four.

Despite this success, Conceicao remains focused on upcoming challenges. With Atalanta visiting San Siro next weekend, he emphasised not looking too far ahead in their quest for European football next season. "Today, we were a team, but it's only three points," he stated. "Now, we immediately think about Atalanta."

Conceicao highlighted the importance of recent training sessions during the international break. He observed that his team appeared solid and balanced both physically and mentally. "There was time to work on it," he said, noting that having two to three weeks for preparation was crucial.

The coach stressed focusing on daily results rather than excessive discussion about future games. "We're thinking about working tomorrow; we shouldn't talk too much," he remarked. For him, consistent training outcomes are vital as they naturally translate into game performance.

Milan's recent victory has boosted their confidence as they aim to secure a spot in European competitions next season. The team's improved form is promising as they prepare for upcoming matches against strong opponents like Atalanta.