Conceição Takes the Blame as AC Milan Crashes Out of Champions League – “It’s My Fault, Not Theo’s”
AC Milan’s Champions League dreams were shattered in dramatic fashion as they crashed out against Feyenoord, but manager Sérgio Conceição refused to let Theo Hernández shoulder the blame. In a high-stakes showdown at the San Siro, Milan seemed destined to secure their spot in the last 16—until disaster struck.
After losing 1-0 in the first leg, Milan wasted no time leveling the aggregate with a lightning-fast opener from Santiago Gimenez. The Rossoneri appeared to be in complete control until Hernández was shown a second yellow card for simulation. Down to 10 men, Milan struggled to keep up as Feyenoord seized the opportunity, equalizing in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Conceição didn’t hold back in his post-match reflection, admitting the team’s mental fragility was their downfall. “It’s definitely a failure; we wanted to reach the last 16. We were stronger than the opponent, but key moments decided the tie—just like in Zagreb,” he confessed, referencing their previous loss where Yunus Musah was also sent off.
While fans were quick to point fingers at Hernández for his costly red card, Conceição defended his defender, stating, “I’m the one responsible, not Theo. He’s given so much to Milan. Until that red card, Feyenoord didn’t even know how to reach our goal. We’re disappointed and angry, but I won’t blame him.”
Despite the heartbreak, Gimenez stood by his teammate, insisting, “Today it happened to Theo, but it could happen to anyone. He always gives everything and is one of the best full-backs in the world.”
Conceição’s strategic decisions also came under scrutiny, particularly his choice to substitute goalscorer Gimenez in the second half. The coach explained, “We were down a player, and Santiago had an adductor issue. I put João Félix up front to counter, but we were still in control of the game.”
Since taking over from Paulo Fonseca in December, Conceição has faced relentless pressure. Despite winning the Italian Super Cup and keeping Milan competitive in the Coppa Italia and Serie A, he feels unfairly judged. “I arrived just a month and a half ago, yet people compare me to coaches who’ve been here for years. We’ve earned 14 points since I took charge, only one less than league leaders Napoli. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress,” he argued.
With Milan’s Champions League journey over, the pressure mounts on Conceição to turn things around. Can he regain the fans’ trust and steer Milan back to glory? Only time will tell.
