Blow for Milan as they are pegged back in the 93rd minute of the derby after a performance full of character and sacrifice.
The Rossoneri had taken the lead through Reijnders late in the first half but were caught at the end of the match by De Vrij’s goal. The final score: 1-1, a point apiece that neither satisfies nor truly disappoints.
At the end of the game, Milan coach Sergio Conceição spoke to DAZN. Here are his statements:
Not great football tonight, but great character:
"There’s been a lot of talk. Some things are absolutely not true. The important thing was for the team to show character, ambition, and the will to win. This is more than just a match for everyone. Now we must maintain this consistency in the league and other competitions."
Did you need more balance between the first and second half? Conceição said:
"In the first half, we tried to press higher, but not everyone was on the same page, leaving spaces for the opponents to counterattack and hurt us. We had prepared for it differently: I like high pressing, like the ball recovery that Tammy made. But the attitude was the right one, intensity and aggression. There’s still a lot of work ahead of us."
From a footballing perspective, what would you like to see in the next game?
"It’s not that Bennacer didn’t do what he had to do—I just needed different characteristics in midfield. Our right winger was dropping into the defensive line, we had more physicality. I put Jimenez out wide and Musah inside. We could have played better in terms of football as well. I understand the environment, but we need to be stronger than that. We need the right mentality because we are Milan, and the players here must embrace this responsibility. That means sometimes keeping possession more, having that intent to hurt the opponent. Honestly, in all my previous years, I have always had a team like this. Time is short, I only arrived a month ago..."
What do you say about Rafael Leao, in terms of responsibility? Conceição replied:
"The consistency we want from the team, we want from every individual as well. He has moments where he is absolutely incredible—technically and when he accelerates. But then there are other moments when he must understand that he is part of a collective and needs to be present. When he reaches that level, he can be one of the best in the world. He has to do it every day—just like everyone else."
