Sergio Conceicao Calls On AC Milan Strikers To Show More Selfishness After Draw With Cagliari

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AC Milan's recent 1-1 draw with Cagliari left coach Sergio Conceicao urging his strikers to be more selfish in front of goal. After Alvaro Morata scored in the 51st minute, Cagliari's Nadir Zortea quickly equalised just four minutes later. This result halted Conceicao's winning streak since taking over, despite Milan's recent Supercoppa Italiana victory.

Conceicao expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance, particularly in the first half. "I expected much more at all levels," he stated. He noted that the quality of play was below expectations, marking it as the weakest first half he has experienced in his 13-year coaching career. The team lacked rhythm and intelligence during this period.

Milan dominated the match statistically, registering 24 shots with 11 on target and an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.14 compared to Cagliari's 0.37. Despite these numbers, Conceicao believes his forwards need to adopt a more ruthless approach. "My feeling is that [the forwards] are altruistic," he told Sky Sport, suggesting they should focus on simpler solutions and be more selfish when necessary.

When asked about discipline within the team, Conceicao emphasised his longstanding approach to coaching. He highlighted the importance of maintaining simple routines like schedules and training commitment. "If I got here halfway through the season it's because something wasn't right," he explained, stressing the need for accountability both on and off the pitch.

Milan's recent form has seen them draw three consecutive home league matches for the first time since January 2020. They are set to face Como on Tuesday before a challenging visit to Juventus next Saturday. Conceicao aims to instil greater discipline and demand high standards from his players to improve their performance in upcoming fixtures.

Conceicao remains committed to improving Milan's gameplay by fostering a culture of strictness and demand among his players. His focus is on ensuring that discipline outside matches translates into better performance during games, aiming for consistency in their upcoming challenges against Como and Juventus.