Sergio Conceicao, recently appointed manager of AC Milan, has identified a critical deficiency within the squad: a lack of hunger and desire to win. This diagnosis comes as the seven-time European champions face a crucial period, with a Champions League last-16 berth within reach but domestic form faltering.
Milan’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Girona at the San Siro, followed by a match against Dinamo Zagreb, presents an opportunity to secure direct qualification. However, their recent 2-0 defeat to Juventus exposed underlying issues that have plagued the team since their Serie A triumph in 2022. The gap between Milan and Serie A leaders Napoli has widened to 19 points, and, more concerningly, they trail the top four by eight points, jeopardizing their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League – a minimum requirement for the club.
Conceicao’s post-match analysis following the Juventus loss was blunt. He dismissed excuses of fatigue or lack of energy, emphasizing the fundamental need for a winning mentality. “The first step to winning a match is wanting to win it,” he stated. He stressed that with proper recovery protocols in place, playing every three days should not be a significant impediment. Instead, he pointed to a lack of “hunger” within the team.
Conceicao’s appointment aimed to inject a renewed sense of fight into a Milan side often criticized for lacking grit. His public criticism of the team’s performance, notably after a draw against relegation-threatened Cagliari, underscores his determination to instill a stronger mentality. He even described Milan’s first-half performance against Cagliari as the worst he had witnessed in his 13 years of coaching, emphasizing that even smaller teams with less talent can achieve great things with sufficient desire. He contrasted the current Milan squad with teams he managed earlier in his career, which lacked talent but possessed an “incredible level of desire.”
Conceicao acknowledged that the issues he is addressing are not new, having observed them in Milan’s matches prior to his arrival. He has taken full responsibility for changing the players’ attitudes. While Conceicao has earned some goodwill by leading Milan to victory in the Italian Super Cup against Inter Milan, the upcoming matches against Girona and Dinamo Zagreb will be crucial tests of his ability to instill the necessary “hunger” within the team, especially given the absences of key players like Christian Pulisic and Alvaro Morata. Failure to secure positive results will undoubtedly intensify pressure on the team and its American owners, RedBird.