Conceicao analyses Torino defeat, explains Leao sub and admits he ‘feels sorry for the fans’ | OneFootball

AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao believes that his side continue to keep shooting themselves in the foot, admitting that he feels sorry for the supporters.

After being knocked out of the Champions League by Feyenoord on Tuesday night there was an obligation to respond against Torino, but ultimately Milan fell to a 2-1 defeat this evening.

A disastrous own goal a few minutes into the game was symbolic of the night that was about to come when Mike Maignan kicked a clearance straight into Malick Thiaw and it rebounded into an empty net.

Christian Pulisic missed a penalty in the first half too, but Tijjani Reijnders equalised inside the final 20 minutes to set up what looked like an exciting finish. However, Gineitis restored the lead very quickly for Torino, who ended up hanging on for the victory.

Conceicao spoke to DAZN after the game to share his thoughts on yet another difficult night, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

It was a game decided by two bits of inattention, was there not enough desire?

“Pavlovic has the characteristics of a warrior. The players have different characters. I feel sorry for the fans who have been there for these last matches. The last 12 out of 15 goals for opponents are unforced errors.

“We are not talking about strategy or formation, they are things that sometimes I ask myself without being able to answer. Today Torino were winning 1-0 in the first half without taking a shot, we scored the goal and then we missed the penalty and a few chances.

“Things happen where we have to be stronger. Every strange situation, it happens that we concede a goal and we are behind: it is not easy for the players either.

“The best on the pitch is the Torino goalkeeper, we took 30 shots. The incidents are truly incredible but we have to be united and be strong: I feel sorry for all the Milan fans.”

Photo by AC Milan

Leao went off at half-time, was it a tactical choice or does he have a physical problem?

“A bit of both: Rafa wasn’t at his best, there are other players. We’re not banking on one player, all players are important. We shouldn’t go for substitutions or formations because if you concede two ridiculous goals like that, any team suffers.”

Why was Musah substituted five minutes into the second half and not at half-time?

“Musah had a yellow card and was dangerous with Torino’s counter-attacks. I had to take risks and I put more attacking players always with balance. For me it was very important to give a signal to the team to be more present in the last 30 metres.”

The Curva Sud took it out on the team tonight and not the owners, what do they have to prove?

“They are right, they are right, they are absolutely right. There is no point in saying anything. It is our fault that they were here and we didn’t win, it is normal that they always have a great need.

“We are not satisfied when criticism arrives about the management, or the players or the staff. We are Milan and we take the criticism all together.”