Conceicao: ‘Milan had to gamble, a draw was like a defeat’ | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao reveals he ‘had to gamble, because a draw here is like a defeat’ when Milan went down to 10 men against Empoli. ‘Football is simple, you want the ball in one net and not the other.’

It was a tough match for the Rossoneri, who had wanted Liberato Cacace sent off for a studs-up foul on Kyle Walker in the opening minutes, then saw Fikayo Tomori dismissed because VAR was not allowed by protocol to point out Lorenzo Colombo was offside on the second yellow card offence.

Empoli also went down to 10 men just 10 minutes later with Luca Marianucci dismissed for a reaction foul on Santi Gimenez.

Conceicao’s half-time substitutions proved decisive, as Rafael Leao and then Serie A debutant Gimenez got the goals for this precious 2-0 victory at the Stadio Castellani, with Christian Pulisic providing both assists.

Conceicao forming his new Milan vision

EMPOLI, ITALY – FEBRUARY 8: Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between Empoli and AC Milan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on February 8, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“We are working on several areas, but we don’t have much time in training. The defensive movements are very important for keeping the team solid. On the red card situation, I did not like the way we played, because we should not be trying to use the offside trap,” Conceicao told DAZN.

“The temptation at that moment was to take off a striker and put on a defender, but I moved Musah to the right and put Kyle in central defence and Joao Felix a bit deeper. A draw here is like a defeat for Milan, so I had to take the gamble.

“With all due respect for Empoli’s aggressive nature and direct approach that shows they are well-drilled, we were the better team throughout and picked up three important points.”

This was the first time Conceicao has started the Rossoneri in a 4-4-2 formation and that requires a sacrifice from the attacking players, but it is something Gimenez already seems suited to.

“Santi is a quality player, I had already followed him when I was at Porto. Quality works when the players are able to push outside their comfort zone and play for the greater good, which is the collective of the team. These details can bring everyone up to a higher level,” continued the coach.

“We all know that players like Pulisic, Joao, Rafa, Tammy and others are great on the ball, but football isn’t just when you have the ball, there is a whole other set of tasks that need to be performed off the ball. Football is simple, there is one net you want the ball in and another you don’t.

“When the players all understand what needs to be done, it will all be much simpler and also more enjoyable for them. This is the kind of football that I want to see. After that, they will have different thoughts and ideas from different coaches, but this is how I see it and they are with me right now,” concluded Conceicao.