SERGIO CONCEICAO OFFICIALLY SLAMS AC MILAN BOSSES FOR "ZERO SUPPORT" DURING TENURE
Sergio Conceicao exposes AC Milan’s "total instability" and claims the board failed to back him despite trophy wins.
Sergio Conceicao, ex-Milan coach, believes he didn't get enough backing from the club's bosses during his short time managing the team last season. He mentioned the whole club felt unstable, which hurt the team's performance. "That's why I'm happy with what we accomplished," he said.
Conceicao took over from Paulo Fonseca on December 30, 2024. Fonseca got the boot because the team was eighth in Serie A and might have missed out on playing in Europe.
Conceicao couldn't have asked for a better start, beating Juventus 2-1 and then Inter 3-2 in his first two games, which led to winning the Italian Super Cup.
I remember working hard, watching videos, and giving pep talks to get the players motivated. "Beating my son Cisco's Juventus and then Inter after coming from behind made me cry," Conceicao told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He explained why he smoked a cigar in the locker room after beating Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana final, a moment that went viral.
"It was a promise," he said. The players saw videos and asked me to smoke one if we won. I had done it 11 times with Porto after winning trophies, more than any other coach. So, I did it again.
Conceicao, who now coaches Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, gave his predictions for the Supercoppa Italiana final between Napoli and Bologna.
"I don't have a favorite, and I don't want to talk about players because people will say we're trying to sign them," he laughed. I'll watch the game. Bologna and Napoli are both fun to watch.
The match between Conte and Italiano is going to be great for Italian football. Antonio is obsessed, like me, and usually, obsession beats talent. Vincenzo, on the other hand, has a great style of play; we lost the Coppa Italia final against him last year. That was a big disappointment.
Even though Conceicao started strong, he was fired at the end of the 2024-25 season after finishing eighth, not enough to get the team into any European competition.
Despite the league finish, Conceicao says his time there was positive.
He said, "Since 2016, only two coaches have won trophies with Milan: Pioli with the Scudetto and me." If you add up the points from my time there, we would have been fifth, so Europa League pace.
The results were there. I remember the two derbies we won and the win against Roma. I'm sad about the Coppa Italia final, but there were some things I didn't like.
When asked to explain, Conceicao said, There was instability all over the club, and the atmosphere around the team wasn't good. That being said, I am actually happy with what we did.
Plus, the management didn't back me. For example, after winning the Supercoppa, we played Cagliari. Even then, there were rumors that the club was thinking about other coaches. I was focused on working hard and winning. I didn't have time to fix everything.
When asked if he would have stayed at Milan if things were different, Conceicao said, Yes, with some changes.
Did Conceicao feel the Milan players let him down or betrayed him?
Never, they were with me, Conceicao said. Theo (Hernandez) said it in an interview before: After Feyenoord, when people thought he got a red card on purpose, I stood up for him. A lot of them wrote to me after I left.
I want discipline and intensity, but also relaxation when it's time to relax. If someone is late, overweight, or something like that, I can't stand it. To me, all players are the same.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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