Sergio Conceicao Defends Theo Hernandez After AC Milan's Champions League Exit To Feyenoord

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AC Milan's Champions League journey ended after a draw with Feyenoord, resulting in their exit from the competition. Despite levelling the aggregate score early in the second leg at San Siro, Milan couldn't advance. Santiago Gimenez scored against his former team, but Theo Hernandez's red card for simulation in the 51st minute shifted the game's momentum. Julian Carranza's header sealed Feyenoord's advancement with a 2-1 aggregate win.

Sergio Conceicao refrained from blaming Theo Hernandez for the defeat. Instead, he lamented missed opportunities throughout the tie and their earlier loss to Dinamo Zagreb. "It's definitely a failure, we wanted to get to the last 16," said Conceicao. He emphasised that Milan was stronger than their opponents but unfortunate incidents, like red cards, influenced outcomes both against Feyenoord and Zagreb.

The match marked only the second time Milan lost a Champions League knockout stage tie to a Dutch club, previously falling to Ajax in the 1994-95 final. Conceicao acknowledged this setback but highlighted his short tenure compared to previous coaches. "I arrived a month and a half ago," he noted, pointing out comparisons with long-standing coaches while stressing his achievements since joining.

Santiago Gimenez made history by becoming the first player to score for and against the same team in one Champions League season. He netted five goals in as many European appearances for Feyenoord this term. After Hernandez's dismissal, Gimenez was substituted due to an adductor issue. Conceicao explained that managing Gimenez's condition was necessary despite controlling the game.

Despite these challenges, Conceicao remains focused on improving Milan's atmosphere and performance. He admitted that achieving success is not easy but remains committed to working on it. "Believe me, it's not easy," he stated regarding the current situation at Milan.

Challenges Ahead for AC Milan

Conceicao also addressed perceptions of his performance since replacing Paulo Fonseca this season. He highlighted winning a trophy and reaching the Coppa Italia semi-finals as accomplishments during his brief tenure. However, he acknowledged that improvements are needed within Milan's environment and mental resilience following setbacks like Hernandez's sending-off.

Theo Hernandez has contributed significantly to AC Milan over time, according to Conceicao. The coach took responsibility for recent results and expressed disappointment over missed opportunities against Feyenoord and Dinamo Zagreb. "I'm the one responsible, not Theo," he affirmed while recognising Hernandez's past contributions.

As AC Milan looks ahead, they must address internal challenges while building on recent successes under Conceicao's leadership. The focus remains on enhancing team dynamics and performance consistency amidst ongoing comparisons with previous coaching regimes at San Siro.