Christian Pulisic looked on in frustration as another chance to salvage Milan’s season slipped away in the Coppa Italia final. For a moment, fans hoped for redemption. But what unfolded in Rome may instead mark the beginning of a new era—one without the man currently on the Rossoneri bench.
A turbulent season took another downward turn on Wednesday evening as Milan suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bologna in the Coppa Italia final. The loss not only denied them their first win in the competition since 2003 but also cast serious doubts over Sergio Conceicao’s future at the club.
Heading into the final, optimism quietly simmered among the Milan faithful. Conceicao’s men had recently beaten the same opponent 3-1 in Serie A using an effective 3-4-3 shape, and momentum seemed to be on their side. However, that spark failed to translate on the night that mattered most.
The Red and Blacks had their chances—Leao’s early run, Pulisic’s near miss, and a chaotic sequence in the box where Skorupski denied Luka Jovic—but the clinical edge was missing. In contrast, Bologna made their moment count. In the 53rd minute, Dan Ndoye fired home after a defensive breakdown, giving Bologna their first major title in 51 years.
Despite Conceicao’s tactical changes—including a switch to a 4-2-3-1 and the introduction of Santiago Gimenez, Joao Felix, and Kyle Walker—Milan never truly looked like equalizing. Bologna’s relentless press, high energy, and composure under pressure kept the Rossoneri at bay. Even with increased possession late in the match, the club failed to turn control into danger.
What’s next for Conceicao?
Amid the disappointment, murmurs of change have grown into full-throated declarations. For weeks, whispers in the Italian press suggested that Sergio Conceicao’s days at Milan were numbered. This defeat may have sealed it.
“It is ‘game over’ for Conceicao in San Siro,” declared Corriere dello Sport, while Tuttosport emphasized that his departure is a “certainty at this point.”
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, even a miraculous final two matchdays in Serie A would not be enough to salvage Conceicao’s job. In January, the Portuguese brought hope with back-to-back wins and an Italian Super Cup triumph, but the spark has since faded. Milan now sits eighth in Serie A, staring at the prospect of missing out on European competition entirely unless results swing dramatically in the final two games.
Who would replace Conceicao?
Though no immediate decision will be made, multiple reports confirm Conceicao will depart at the end of the season, regardless of how the remaining matches go. Fabrizio Romano has echoed this, noting that “this was always planned,” with the Coppa Italia seen as a potential lifeline that never materialized. So, who could take the reins at Milan?
A number of high-profile names have already ruled themselves out. Carlo Ancelotti is headed to manage Brazil, and Cesc Fabregas has opted to remain at Como. La Gazzetta dello Sport narrows the list to Maurizio Sarri, Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto De Zerbi, and Vincenzo Italiano—though only Sarri and Allegri appear attainable at the moment. De Zerbi recently secured Champions League qualification with Marseille, and Italiano is basking in Bologna’s historic victory.
