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Sergio Conceicao had an unforgettable first week as AC Milan’s head coach, guiding the team to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana final. Despite only being appointed a week ago, Conceicao led Milan to silverware, making a huge impact right away.
Milan's win came just days after Conceicao replaced Paulo Fonseca as coach. Despite battling illness and a high fever, Conceicao was determined to take charge, leading Milan to a 2-1 win over Juventus in the semi-finals. In the final, Milan found themselves trailing 2-0 but staged a dramatic comeback. Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic scored to equalize, and in stoppage time, Tammy Abraham’s goal sealed the victory, completing an incredible turnaround.
After the match, Conceicao praised his players for their resilience, stating, "The team has character, it managed to win games against two great teams in the end." He acknowledged the role of the coach in making changes at halftime, saying, "At half-time, the coach has to change certain things, that's why they pay me."
Conceicao made history by becoming the Milan manager who won a trophy in the fewest matches in the club’s history, lifting the Supercoppa in just his second match. The previous record was held by Vincenzo Montella, who took 18 matches to win the Italian Super Cup in 2016.
While the victory was a team effort, Conceicao was quick to give credit to his players. "The credit is all theirs because they absorbed my indications. There is still a lot of work, but with humility, we can do well in the Champions League and in the league," he said.
The celebrations were full of joy and emotion. Conceicao shared a cigar-smoking ritual with his players after the match, a tradition he follows after winning a title. He also had to receive treatment for an injury he suffered during the match, caused by a tackle from Emerson Royal. Despite this, Conceicao’s spirits were high, and he expressed his happiness, saying, "It’s my 13th title as a coach; I'm happy and it has a special flavour for me."
Conceicao’s quick success at Milan has brought optimism to the club, and the players are already looking ahead to their upcoming challenges in the Champions League and Serie A.
