"Plas" at Milan, Ibra comes out against coach Conceicao

2025-02-14 15:53:00, Sport CNA

Sergio Conceicao is already under pressure at Milan, just weeks after his appointment as coach. According to reports in Corriere dello Sport, Milan and Red Bird advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not entirely satisfied with the Portuguese's performance, despite him achieving a better points per game average than his predecessor Paulo Fonseca. However, inconsistent results, the current position in the standings and some questionable tactical decisions have raised doubts about his future on the red and black bench.

Conceicao took over as Milan manager on 30 December 2024, replacing Fonseca, after a string of poor results under the former coach. Under his leadership, Milan have won the Italian Super Cup, but their performance in Serie A and the Champions League has left much to be desired. With three wins, two draws and one defeat in the league, Milan have failed to return as a serious contender and are currently seven points adrift of the Champions League places, despite having a game in hand.

In Europe, the team suffered a heavy defeat in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs against Feyenoord, which has made it difficult for them to advance to the next stage of the competition. This defeat has further aggravated Kostas' situation, adding to doubts about his ability to lead a club like Milan to the highest levels of European football.

One of the elements that has made the situation even more delicate is the relationship between Conceicao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has a decisive role in club politics. Ibra is not happy with the way the coach is managing the team, both in terms of tactics and public communication.

A key moment that has caused controversy was the match against Feyenoord, where the coach decided to remove Rafael Leao and Santiago Gimenez from the field and replace them with Abraham and Camarda. This decision was not well received by Ibrahimovic, who was seen unhappy in the stands. Furthermore, before the match, the former Swedish striker stated that Conceicao had two teams available after the January transfer window, pointing out to him that there are no excuses for the poor results.

The Portuguese has signed a contract until June 2026, but the current situation shows that his future is not guaranteed. Milan and Red Bird executives have made it clear that qualifying for the Champions League for the 2025/26 season is a mandatory requirement to keep the coach at the helm of the team. If the Rossoneri do not achieve this objective, his departure at the end of the season will be inevitable.