Last Train to the Champions League... Sergio Conceicao took it yesterday in the late afternoon from Milan's Central Station, heading toward Bologna, a crucial stop to keep believing in the possibility of playing in Europe's top competition next season.
Tonight at the Dall'Ara, in the rescheduled match of Serie A's 9th round, the Rossoneri must absolutely win to close the gap to five points behind Juventus, who are fourth in the standings, and keep the Champions League dream alive. Sergio Conceição knows this well. Having arrived less than 60 days ago on Milan’s bench, he is facing a situation more complicated than he initially thought. But in Bologna, there are no excuses: they must hit the accelerator and hope for some slip-ups from those ahead of them.
Despite elimination in the Cup against Feyenoord and the painful defeat in Turin, the club has reaffirmed its trust in Conceição, at least for the present. But trust is also the key word for the coach when it comes to his squad. Sergio made sure to express his confidence in private talks with some of the players who have been underperforming—Mike Maignan, for example. The French goalkeeper will regularly start at the Dall'Ara, ready to make amends for the many mistakes of recent weeks.
One major question looms over the rest of the lineup: should all four attackers start together again or not?
Yesterday morning at Milanello, Conceição shuffled his options significantly. He initially fielded his quartet of stars, then removed João Félix, then Leão, and later brought the former Chelsea man back in. Pulisic was tested first on the right and then on the left, Musah as a defensive midfielder and then as a right winger, while Sottil was not ruled out either, after impressing as a substitute on the left in Turin. In short, the final decision will only be made today.
Rafael Leao is needed at peak level for Milan
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Leão is the one from whom Conceição expects a change of pace. Against Torino, the coach substituted his fellow countryman after just one half. Rafa had contributed little, apart from winning the penalty awarded for Pedersen’s handball. More importantly, he had not satisfied Conceição in terms of defensive work. Leão must be more decisive in attack and more cooperative in defense—just as Fonseca had demanded in the first part of the season. From one coach to another, the requests and issues remain the same. And while Sergio’s Milan has slightly increased its league performance (1.75 points per game compared to his predecessor’s 1.59), the pace is still not enough to reach the goal—Champions League qualification.
Wake up, João Felix
Conceição received reinforcements in the winter transfer market, keeping ambitions high. However, things haven’t gone entirely smoothly on the pitch. Not much to say about Gimenez, who, despite ups and downs, maintains a solid goal-scoring average. Walker has been sidelined only by an injury that is nearing recovery, Sottil has played too little, and Bondo has yet to make his debut. The one expected to lead the charge is João Félix, but after a dazzling debut against Roma, the Portuguese has slowed down. Not coincidentally, despite being one of Conceição’s favorites, the former Chelsea player is not guaranteed to start against Bologna. Whether it’s him or Leão who begins on the bench—assuming Milan doesn’t persist with its four-star attack—the expectation is that the substitute will have a real impact on the match.
Youssouf Fofana returns
One player likely to reclaim his spot in midfield is Youssouf Fofana, after back-to-back benchings against Feyenoord and Torino. The Frenchman has suffered a noticeable dip in form, likely due to the fatigue accumulated from starting 30 consecutive matches. Now is the time to push forward again. After all, there’s no time left to catch a breath—Milan’s season is at a crossroads. Either they rise again to chase what was considered the bare minimum objective last summer, or—despite lifting the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh—they must officially declare 2024-25 a failed campaign. And with that would come inevitable consequences, starting with Conceição’s own position.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
