AC Milan concluded their 33rd Serie A matchweek with a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Atalanta, leaving Sergio Conceicao’s squad to prepare for a crucial Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg clash against Inter Milan.

Sergio Conceicao stated in the post-match press conference: “What I’ve always said is that the players who come onto the pitch must give a little more effort, but today that wasn’t the case. We had a balanced first half, but in the first 20 minutes, we were far from what we had prepared during the week.”

“We faced a team that has been performing exceptionally well for years. We lacked the necessary aggression to score. Although we had good chances, we were too passive.”

“The last 15 minutes were good—we had more possession in the opponent’s half and created opportunities, but the final pass made the difference, and we didn’t execute well. We started the second half strongly, but they scored on their first counterattack—a goal we had worked on all week.”

Can the upcoming derby change everything?
“This is an important match, and the team is aware of it. We have this awareness—it’s a game beyond just a derby, it’s a semi-final. We want to play in the final in Rome. But honestly, nothing can save the situation now. The atmosphere after winning the Super Cup was less positive, but immediately, they started talking about the AC Milan coaching position.”

“This doesn’t change anything for me. I’ve achieved things; I’ve been in football for years, and pressure motivates me. Entering this environment is good, but disrespect—never. In the end, we must evaluate and see when was the last time AC Milan won two trophies in a single season. You know, a coach should be judged based on the work he has done.”

Are you referring to the rumors about the bench?
“Every day, it’s as if no one is the head coach of AC Milan. I didn’t come from another planet—I’ve been a coach for 14 years. Pressure to win is good and beautiful; what I’m experiencing here, I also experienced during my playing career.”

Do you plan to test a three-man defense against Inter?
“We’re working on the game now, and we’ll see on Wednesday. Against Inter, we’ve always added a fifth defender—we know they’re a dangerous team in attack.”