QS: ‘No going back’ – Conceicao under pressure to deliver Coppa Italia success | OneFootball

With the league season virtually a write-off, Sergio Conceicao is under pressure to get AC Milan into the final of the Coppa Italia.

As Quotidiano Sportivo write, there is ‘no going back’ for Milan tomorrow night: they must beat Inter to reach the final. Even if the cup were to be hoisted into the Rome sky next month, though, it would not save Conceicao’s job.

The Rossoneri have been working for months on next season. It has been two months since the London meeting between Gerry Cardinale and Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the potential sporting directors of the future.

Fabio Paratici (who then faded away), Andrea Berta (ended up joining Arsenal) and Igli Tare (now back in the running with Tony D’Amico) were the names they met with. In short, planning for 2025-26 began well in advance.

Those pictures of Conceicao smoking a cigar after the Supercoppa Italiana triumph in Saudi Arabia back in January feel so long ago. After the most recent setback against Atalanta, the coach was keen to point at his past.

“I won the Supercoppa, then I drew with Cagliari and immediately the rumours about the bench began. It’s a lack of respect, it’s as if there was no one here. I’ve been coaching for 14 years, I’ve won titles in Portugal (11). And I don’t know how long it’s been since Milan won a couple,” he said.

In 2011 he won the league title and Portuguese Super Cup with Porto – same year, but different seasons. He achieved a double in the same season in 2007-08: UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

“We’ll do the math at the end. And I’ll be judged on what I’ve done in 6 months,” Conceicao said previously while at Milan. In fact, he has already been judged by the club, after the 10th defeat of the league season against La Dea over the weekend.

Tomorrow, therefore, is the last chance for Europe, even if for Conceiçao and for this Milan time has already (long since) run out.