Sérgio Conceição opens up: “Being the coach of Milan is not for the weak!” The Portuguese coach did not hide the difficulties he faced when taking charge of the Rossoneri during a turbulent phase of the 2024-25 season. In an exclusive interview with La Repubblica, Conceição revealed the overwhelming weight of the pressure, the treacherous traps of the club’s environment, and the lack of support that, in his opinion, undermined his mission at San Siro.
Arriving on December 30, 2024, to replace Paulo Fonseca, Conceição signed until the end of the 2025-26 season, with a release clause that Milan did not hesitate to activate at the end of the season, after the team failed to qualify for European competitions. The Portuguese, however, did not hide that the six months he spent in Milan were intense and filled with contradictions.
“We played every three days, we trained during matches. Lots of video, little practical work. I’m not complaining, I knew what I was getting into, but it was a huge challenge,” he admitted. Despite the difficulties, Conceição managed to win the Supercoppa Italiana in his first two games in charge and took Milan to the final of the Coppa Italia, although the team finished only in eighth place in the league — a setback that weighed like a ton.
The former coach of the Rossoneri did not hide the turmoil behind the scenes: “Being the coach of Milan is never easy. We are talking about a club with a history of glories in the Champions League and of maximum demands. But this was a complicated moment. After we won the Supercoppa, a draw with Cagliari was enough for rumors about my departure to start circulating, and no one denied them.”
The instability was not confined to the bench. Conceição revealed that institutional instability reached the locker room, affecting the team’s performance: “I have been in locker rooms for 25 years and I know that the instability of the club reaches the players. Playing without the fans, who deserted the Curva, was tough. And with social media, everything that was said against us reached the players directly. We needed much more protection from the board.”
Among the few positive points, the coach highlighted the leaders of the group, crucial elements for maintaining cohesion under pressure: “A leader is someone who sets an example both on and off the field. Pulisic and Gabbia were the team’s biggest leaders, but not the only ones.”
Sérgio Conceição has already moved on to new challenges in the Saudi league, serving Al-Ittihad, but his time at Milan will be marked by difficulties, the struggle against instability, and the enormous pressure that comes with being a coach at one of the most demanding clubs in the world. His story is a clear warning about the harsh realities of top-level football, where success is fleeting and criticism is relentless.
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This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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