Sergio Conceicao vowed to keep working with the same passion at AC Milan after admitting the pressure on him was growing after their 2-1 loss to Bologna.
Milan’s season is on the brink of unravelling after their Champions League exit and two consecutive Serie A losses, which have left them eighth in the standings, eight points behind Juventus in fourth place with 12 matches remaining.
Conceicao’s side held the lead at half-time after Rafael Leao’s strike but conceded just three minutes after the break. Dan Ndoye then got the winner in the 82nd minute, with Milan unable to find a late equaliser.
It was the first away loss at Bologna for Milan since March 2002. They have also lost seven of their 26 games in Serie A this season; in the last 10 seasons, only in 2017-18 (eight) and in 2019-20 (10), have they lost more games at this stage of the competition (both ended in sixth place).
“It’s all in our hands. If and when the club feels I’m no longer the right person for Milan, I will step aside, but until that moment, I will continue working with the same passion as always,” Conceicao told reporters.
“I feel very frustrated because the results are not coming. But I think it’s normal for a coach who works with passion.
“It seems like there is a cloud over Milan that we need to get out of with results because those are what make the difference.”
It is the first time that Milan have suffered back-to-back defeats in Serie A since January 2023 (a run of three), while they are winless in three in all competitions, leading to questions being asked of Conceicao.
The 50-year-old believes recent media criticism of him is unjustified.
“I realise that every day people talk about my situation here and my future, acting as if I was just dropped in here, but I faced five very big Italian clubs,” Conceicao said during a rant in his press conference.
“I faced coaches like [Maurizio] Sarri and [Stefano] Pioli in charge of teams that were theoretically weaker, but I always qualified against them other than with Inter.”
“I see people talk about my situation, so let them just tell me to go if they want. I don’t want one more Euro, so let me reassure them. I did not just come here out of nothing. I won 13 trophies, I had 100 Champions League games.
“Still, people talk about it and say mean things. I have family and neighbours who see what is happening. It’s not fair.
“I am sorry for having let loose a bit there. I prefer to talk about football.”
Milan host Lazio next in Serie A on Sunday.
