New Delhi: AC Milan were in control of the game in the Champions League at home to Feyenoord on Tuesday before Theo Hernandez was shown a red card in the 51st minute which turned the game south. Still, coach Sergio Conceicao refused to put blame on the defender for the team’s exit from the European tournament.
Milan had lost the first leg 1-0 but within the first minute of the game Santiago Gimenez, Milan’s latest signing from Feyenoord scored to level the aggregate result. However, Hernandez picked a second booking for simulation, in the second half which saw the game draw 1-1. Julian Carranza equalized in the 73rd minute, making the aggregate score 2-1 and Feyenoord have now reached the knockout stage of the competition.
Milan would have got direct qualification instead of playing in the qualifiers of the final 16 if they had managed to win against Dinamo Zagreb during the last game of the league. In the game, Yunus Musah was sent off the field and ultimately the game ended in a 2-1 loss for the Serie A team.
Sergio Conceicao talks about the red card
Conceicao in reflection admitted that not making it to the knockouts was definitely a failure for the side. The Portuguese coach felt they were stronger than their opponentns but red cards against Feyenoord and Zagreb that became a deciding factor in those games.
🗣️ Sergio Conceiçao conference press: “One could say the referee was too harsh, but we needed to be stronger mentally.” pic.twitter.com/yyqnB3c3mD
— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) February 18, 2025
Conceicao felt that referee Szymon Marciniak may have been a little too harsh but Milan needed to be stronger “mentally”. The 50-year-old took the blame for the loss on him rather than blaming Hernandez noting that the left-back’s contribution to the club was immense. Conceicao pointed out that until Theo’s red card, Feyenoord were unable to score in the game.
Gimenez was taken off in the second half and Conceicao explained the decision was out of concern for the Mexican forward’s adductor problem and felt he required proper managing. Instead, he had put Joao Felix up front and commended on his efforts with the team controlling the game well. Gimenez was also backing Hernandez noting that such bookings can happen to anyone, calling him the “best full-back in the world”.
After Paulo Fonseca was sacked in December 2024, Conceicao took over the helms of the team and led the side to the Italian Super Cup win though he noted that he isn’t always judged on the right scale, making comparisons with coaches who had led the teams for ages.
Talking about the side since his takeover, Conceicao said that the side had managed to take 14 points while in the same time period Napoli, the Serie A leaders had taken 15 as well as being in the semi-finals of Coppa Italia.
Despite Theo Hernandez getting a red card which ultimately led to the draw against Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League playoffs, Sergio Conceicao still felt that he was to be blamed for the loss. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
