Conceição says Milan’s lack of club support made his six-month spell harder

Sergio Conceição says Milan lacked the club structure he needed to build credibility with his players, despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana and reaching the Coppa Italia final during his six months in charge. He pointed to Gerry Cardinale’s absence from Milanello as a sharp contrast with the support he believes Ruben Amorim now receives.

“Every coach needs a certain kind of club structure behind him, otherwise it becomes difficult to have credibility with the players. At Milan, the conditions were not ideal,” Conceição told La Gazzetta dello Sport. His criticism does not erase the achievements of his spell: Milan beat Roma and Inter to reach the Coppa Italia final, and won the Supercoppa. But the defeat to Bologna in the final still rankles. “I don’t regret those six months,” he said, “but it still burns that we lost that final.”

Conceição said Cardinale never visited Milanello while he was Milan coach. The owner did send a message congratulating him after the Supercoppa, but Conceição said he did not reply because he did not have Cardinale’s number and only read the message later. He contrasted that with Amorim’s situation, describing Cardinale as now consistently alongside the team.

The Portuguese coaches know each other from their time as rivals: Conceição led Porto while Amorim managed Sporting. “I wish him well in Milan,” Conceição said. His comments make the distinction clear: he is not dismissing what Milan achieved, but arguing that the conditions around a coach matter to his authority in the dressing room.

Conceição also backed Inter as the most established side in the title race. “Inter are the most settled team, with a foundation that has made the difference for years,” he said, framing continuity as their advantage.

He called Lazio’s position near the top alongside Inter a surprise, given the atmosphere in Rome and the problems with supporters. He praised Gennaro Gattuso for bringing energy quickly, said Nuno Tavares had returned to national-team level and described Davide Frattesi as a great signing. On Juventus, he said Luciano Spalletti has a quality but young squad and varies his approach to find identity and balance, while stressing that results matter.

Milan are sixth with 12 points from six games, having won three and drawn three. Their home match against Atalanta on 18 October offers a chance to keep building. Conceição’s assessment leaves a pointed question around the club: results matter, but he believes a coach also needs visible support from the structure above him.