The ex AC Milan Portuguese head coach, Sergio Conceicao, currently at Saudi club Al-Ittihad, spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport in an exclusive interview.
Here are his words about his experience with the Rossoneri:
"Veni vidi vici? In fact, yes. I remember days of intense work on video analysis, motivation, and speeches to get straight into the players’ heads. We beat my son Chico's Juventus, and then Inter with a comeback. And I cried."
And after the victory, a nice cigar.
"A promise. The players, who had seen some videos, asked me to smoke it if we won. With Porto I had done it 11 times, meaning after winning trophies. I’m the coach who has won the most there. So I did it again."
And tonight, who would you offer one to?
"I have no favourites, and I don’t even want to talk about players because then it takes a moment for people to write that we’re interested in them. I’ll watch the match. Bologna and Napoli are great to watch. The Conte versus Italiano clash is an advert for football. Antonio is obsessed, like me, and in fact obsession beats talent. Vincenzo, on the other hand, plays beautiful football, so much so that last year we lost the Coppa Italia final against him. A huge regret."
An assessment of your six months at Milan?
"Positive. From 2016 to today, only two coaches have won trophies with Milan: Pioli, with the Scudetto, and me. If you add up the points from our period, we had a Europa League pace, fifth place. The results were there: I’m thinking of the two derby wins and the victory over Roma. I’m sorry about the Coppa Italia final, but some things didn’t sit well with me.”
Like what?
"There was instability at club level, and the environment around the team wasn’t good. That’s why I hold on tightly to what we did. Also, the management didn’t support me. I’ll give you an example: after winning the Super Cup we played Cagliari. At that time, rumours were already circulating that the club was following other coaches. I was thinking about working and winning, with the weight of results on my shoulders. I didn’t have time to work at every level."
Would you have stayed?
“Yes, but with some changes.”
Did the players betray you?
"Never, on the contrary, they were with me. Theo said it too in the interview you did: after Feyenoord, when people said he had deliberately got himself sent off, I defended him. Many wrote to me when I left. I demand discipline and high standards, then relaxation when it’s time to relax. If someone shows up a kilo overweight, arrives late, or similar things, I can’t tolerate it. For me, in the end, the players are all equal.”
Can you tell us about the most meaningful speech you gave?
"In 2012, at Olhanense, I had studied my players’ passions and hobbies, something I always do. Before a match, for Father’s Day, I showed a video in which their fathers talked about them. People were crying, then they went out onto the pitch and… 2–0 to the opponents. When we came back into the dressing room I changed approach and became the sergeant again: we drew 2–2."
Saudi Arabia chapter. Did Inzaghi greet you this time?
"Yes, we faced each other in October and he won. I had just arrived. After Porto–Inter, where his team had quite a bit of luck, I didn’t greet him because that’s how I am. During matches I go into a trance. But he’s a great coach. We won the Scudetto in 2000. The relationship is good."
There too, you were immediately decisive. With scraped knees.
"I had made a vow to Our Lady of Fatima. I did the last 500 metres on my knees and then showed up for the training camp. It was 1998, I scored against Juventus in the last minute and we won the Super Cup. Faith is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a practising Catholic. Here I can’t, but in Milan I went to church every day. A few months ago the Pope invited me to the Jubilee to talk about my journey and my difficulties."
Where does your faith come from? Conceicao replied:
"I lost my father at 16 in a motorcycle accident, my mother at 18 after a long illness, and then also a brother. I was the seventh of eight. Faith gave me strength and calm. I want to show my parents that I’m here and that I’ve achieved all my dreams. But inside me, deep down, hidden, I have and will always have something ‘dark’, like a shadow."
And that’s because of your parents?
"Yes. I carry their photos with me and I pray for them every day. I’m a serene man. I have five children, I played and now I coach, but I know I’ll never be completely happy without my parents. That’s the hole I have inside me."
Your children fill it a bit, though.
"Of course. Francisco is now at Juventus and he’s doing well."
Do you talk about football at home?
"As little as possible. The important thing is that at dinner they keep their phones in their pockets. I demanded that at Porto and at Milan too. Chico made his debut with me in Portugal. In 2020, during lockdown, I told him: ‘If you’re hungry… then drink water.’ He was a bit chubby. To make the difference you need sacrifices and mentality. If I could, I’d lend him my hunger. Not that he doesn’t have it, on the contrary, but when I was 16 I was bringing money home so we could eat, it was different. But I’ve always believed in it. And he believes in it too.”
Porto chapter: 11 trophies in seven years.
"The relationship with Da Costa was top. When I arrived, the club hadn’t won for four seasons. We made 600 million in sales and did well in the Champions League too, where teams would say, ‘Ah, Porto in the round of 16…’. And instead we managed to hurt the Italian teams as well: Juventus, Roma, Lazio…"
How many clubs approached you?
"I had contacts with Lazio, but not only them. And even before signing for Al-Ittihad I had offers. Here the league is competitive, ambitions are high, training is in the afternoon and not in the morning. You have to adapt to cultural dynamics. But this is a challenge, and I love challenges like this."
Conceicao, what is the phrase that represents you most?
"'In calm waters you don’t achieve great conquests, you need the storm.’ Mihajlović, speaking about Benassi, said the difficulty wasn’t being captain, but getting up at four in the morning and working. My parents taught me that. And you mustn’t be satisfied. I enrolled at university at 51. I’m doing a master’s degree in sports coaching.”
Your greatest satisfaction in Italy?
“As a player, the 2000 Scudetto with Lazio, the most incredible ever. Sinisa, Stanković and I were listening to the radio in the dressing room. It was a group of strong personalities, full of little fights every day, but Eriksson knew how to manage us. I also remember the 1999 European Super Cup against United. Ferguson said his greatest regret was that defeat.”
And the disappointment?
"The Scudetto lost with Inter on 5 May 2002. I comforted Ronaldo, who was in tears on the bench. I was next to him. No one could believe it. In Milan I had difficulties. Cúper didn’t trust me, but it was a group of champions."
