´Proud´ Conceicao ready to take Milan back to where they belong

New Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao says he is prepared for the tough job ahead as he aims to turn the team into a side worthy of the club’s heritage.

He was appointed on Monday following the sacking of Paulo Fonseca, with the club eighth in the Serie A standings and already out of the title race after seven wins from their opening 17 games.

Two wins in their last seven league outings has left Milan 14 points off leaders Atalanta, while they sit 12th in the Champions League table, with Conceicao tasked with getting them back up in the table.

“I’m proud to take on this adventure. The emotions are temporary because we need to work,” Conceicao said.

“We need to have a warm heart and cool head to work as hard as we can and win the matches. That’s what we want, because we represent a great club on a global level, and we need to be worthy of this great club.”

During his time in Portugal, Conceicao won 274 of his 379 games in charge in all competitions (D53 L52), averaging a win percentage of 72.30%, the highest of the six clubs he has previously managed.

Ready to take on this great adventure: Coach Conceição’s first thoughts as Milan manager#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/l1j0C5L9bw

— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 30, 2024

His first task as Milan boss will see him depart with his players for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, as his first game in charge comes in Riyadh on Friday when Milan take on Juventus in the semi-final of the Supercoppa Italiana.

“We don’t have much time, but that’s absolutely not an excuse,” he added.

“With the time at my disposal, I have to work as hard as I can so that the players understand what they have to do, first as individuals and then be a strong team in every game we have.”

Conceicao, who played with Lazio, Inter and Parma in Italy, will have good memories of the Supercoppa, and playing against Juventus.

In his first-ever game in Italy, Conceicao scored an added-time winner on his Lazio debut to defeat Juventus in the 1998 Supercoppa Italiana final, so Friday’s game may feel like a date with destiny, as well as being a family affair.

Conceicao’s son Francisco joined the Italian club in August on loan from Porto, where he played under his father.

That move came shortly after Conceicao brought an end to his seven-year spell as manager at Porto, despite having signed a four-year contract extension in April.