Davide Calabria will not be available for Conceicao: Milan will return to the field in Zagreb for the decisive Champions League clash, and the captain will be a spectator.
A coincidence? In some ways, yes. Despite being aware of the suspension risk, Calabria was booked for protesting against Girona, resulting in a one-match ban. Davide had come on as a substitute for the injured Emerson Royal.
The outcome: the right flank is left exposed, and Sergio Conceição will have to make do in one of the most important matches of his short tenure with the Rossoneri.
Filippo Terracciano is favoured over Fikayo Tomori. Walker and Jiménez are unavailable. Davide Calabria and the coach were also involved in a heated exchange, which the club later officially downplayed as a "misunderstanding."
Everyone witnessed the "misunderstanding", both the fans in the stadium and, even more clearly, those watching on TV. The latter saw Conceição jogging toward the captain with a look that left no room for friendly intentions. Sergio’s face was tense, and so was Calabria’s. Neither backed down; if not for teammates and staff intervening, they might have stepped forward and clashed.
The reasons: after being subbed off with Milan tied 1-1, Calabria left the pitch visibly upset and angry (a good sign, according to the club). He kicked a water bottle, which unfortunately rebounded and struck his coach’s leg. Conceição, a fiery personality, initially ignored it, focused on the game. But he remembered: after the match, he confronted Calabria about his behavior.
Calabria responded firmly. Teammates and staff members calmed things down, concluding the first half of this internal "match."
The second half played out in the locker room, involving the club as well. CEO Furlani decided not to fine the player or impose further punishment, while Zlatan Ibrahimović, Senior Advisor to the ownership, publicly summarized the incident:
"It was a situation charged with adrenaline. Two winners who did what they did. I’ve often experienced such moments: as Fabio Capello taught me, these things can actually benefit the team. Conceição works with passion, as does Calabria. It’s all resolved already: this happens when everyone wants to win. That’s why I emphasize that such things are better happening than not—they show that the coach and players care. At Milan, there’s always pressure to get results: against Parma, it wasn’t quality but attitude that made the difference, just like in the Supercoppa. With this spirit, what happened between Calabria and the coach can happen. From the outside, it might seem like more than it is, but for us, it’s normal. Of course, for the club’s image, it wasn’t ideal: when we find consistency in results, we’ll have more peace of mind."
Calabria - Conceicao, any consequences at Milanello?
No immediate consequences. But in the future? Things might change. Davide Calabria, a lifelong Rossonero, is set to leave when his contract expires in June. The 2022 Scudetto and the recent Supercoppa will remain in the trophy cabinet as his legacy, as pointed out by the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
As for Sergio, his Rossonero future could be extended if the team manages to climb back into Champions League contention in the league, without losing sight of their current tournament journey.
In Zagreb, Theo Hernández and Rafa Leão will both be available, having been substituted at halftime against Parma. Theo’s substitution was tactical, as he was at fault, once again, for the opposition’s goal. It wasn’t his only mistake: he created risks at the back but failed to deliver in attack, as his role demands.
Rafa’s case was different: he wasn’t in top form and was only expected to play part of the match. There was no surprise or disappointment; in fact, Leao was one of the first to run, wearing slippers, to celebrate Chukwueze’s winning goal. Rafa represents Milan’s future, but the same cannot be said for Theo.
Theo’s contract expires in the summer of 2026, and he’s demanding a salary increase to renew. However, his current performances don’t justify it, which is why the club has put negotiations on hold. Theo knows what he needs to do to reignite discussions, as per Gazzetta.
