Sergio Conceicao lets rip as Milan slump to Cagliari draw on home debut – ‘Weakest first half of my coaching career’

Today celine. New Saturday 11th January 2025 10:18 PM REPORT

Sergio Conceicao blasted his AC Milan players for producing “the weakest first half of my coaching career” after the new Rossoneri manager’s home and league debut ended in a 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari.

Fresh off a superb start under Conceicao where the club lifted the Supercoppa Italiana, the Rossoneri were wasteful in attack as their stuttering Serie A form continued with a third draw in four games.

Former Porto coach Conceicao was furious with his players’ first-half performance after the game.

“I expected a lot more on every level,” he told Sky Italia. “I have been a coach for 13 years, and weighing up the quality of this squad against what I saw, that was the weakest first half since I started coaching.

“We lacked pace, quality, they were all in front of our goal. We needed to find reference points, depth, and we weren’t good or intelligent enough with this.”

Alvaro Morata knocked in the opener from close range early in the second half, but the relegation-battling visitors drew level just four minutes later when Nadir Zortea found the bottom corner.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan will be disappointed not to have saved the shot, particularly after producing a world-class flying stop in the first half.

The error proved costly as Milan failed to capitalise on their other chances, Christian Pulisic striking the bar in the first half before Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile produced a string of important saves on debut to keep out the hosts.

Winger Rafael Leao told Sky Italia that “we deserved a different result,” but remained upbeat about the changes he has seen under Conceicao when asked what the new coach has brought.

“Mentality, the desire to always be in the opponent’s half, to never give up,” Leao said. “That is what we are trying to do in every game, he hasn’t been here for long but he has already instilled his ideas.”

Milan ended the game with 24 shots to Cagliari’s six but were punished for their profligacy on a night that began on a high with the Supercoppa trophy being paraded around San Siro.

The Rossoneri have one win in their last five Serie A games and have drawn three of the last four, a run that leaves them eighth in the standings, eight points outside the top four and 16 behind leaders Napoli.

It was a golden point for Cagliari, however, who have picked up four points on the road in their last two games at Monza and Milan.

However, the Sardinians remain in the relegation zone, sitting 18th with 18 points, one behind a three-team cluster of Parma, Como and Hellas Verona, who all have a game in hand.