Milan Coach Sergio Conceicao Praises Team's Gamble For Victory Against Empoli

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AC Milan's coach, Sergio Conceicao, expressed satisfaction with his strategic decision to pursue a win despite being reduced to 10 players against Empoli. The match saw no goals in the first half, but Conceicao introduced attacking players Santiago Gimenez, Rafael Leao, and Christian Pulisic. This move came before Fikayo Tomori received a second yellow card in the 55th minute.

Empoli also went down to 10 men when Luca Marianucci was shown a straight red card. Leao then scored the opening goal in the 68th minute, followed by Gimenez securing a 2-0 victory eight minutes later. Conceicao explained his choice not to substitute a striker for a defender, saying, "A draw here is like a defeat for Milan, so I had to take the gamble."

The coach adjusted his formation by moving Yunus Musah to the right and placing Kyle Walker in central defence while positioning Joao Felix deeper. Conceicao emphasised that despite Empoli's aggressive style, Milan was superior throughout the game and earned three crucial points.

Conceicao praised new signing Santiago Gimenez for his impressive start in Italy after joining from Feyenoord. "Santi is a quality player," he noted, having tracked him since his time at Porto. Conceicao highlighted that quality shines when players step out of their comfort zones and contribute to the team's collective success.

The coach believes that understanding roles within the team simplifies and enhances enjoyment for players. This approach aligns with the style of football he aims to implement at Milan.

Milan's Upcoming Challenges

Milan currently holds seventh place in Serie A with 38 points. Their next challenge is against Feyenoord in the Champions League knockout-stage play-offs on Wednesday. The team aims to build on their recent success as they prepare for this crucial encounter.