AC Milan’s Champions League Hopes Dashed by Feyenoord
Feb 18, 2025, 05:09 PM ET
In what was expected to be a triumphant night for AC Milan, the Italian giants found themselves grappling with disappointment as their Champions League journey came to an abrupt halt. The match against Feyenoord on Tuesday was supposed to be a showcase of Milan’s prowess, but a red card for Theo Hernández turned the tide against them. Despite the setback, coach Sérgio Conceição stood by his player, refusing to place the blame solely on Hernández for their exit.
AC Milan had entered the match with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. However, they quickly leveled the aggregate score in the opening minute, setting the stage for what could have been a thrilling comeback. But fate had other plans. Hernández’s second booking for simulation left Milan with ten men, and Feyenoord capitalized on the opportunity, equalizing in the second half to secure a 1-1 draw. This result allowed Feyenoord to advance to the round of 16 with a 2-1 aggregate win.
The frustration for Milan fans was palpable, especially considering that the team could have avoided the playoff altogether. A win at Dinamo Zagreb in their final league phase game would have sufficed. However, that match also ended in disappointment, with Yunus Musah being sent off, leading to a 2-1 loss.
Reflecting on the situation, Conceição candidly admitted, “It’s definitely a failure, we wanted to get to the last 16. This match showed that we are stronger than the opponent and that it was the episodes that decided, like in Zagreb, sending off there, sending off here.” He added, “You could say that the referee [Szymon Marciniak] was too harsh, but we had to be stronger mentally. I’m the one responsible, not Theo. Then inside the locker room we’ll see.”
Conceição’s defense of Hernández was unwavering. “Theo has given so much to Milan, I have made many mistakes in my career. Until Theo’s red card, Feyenoord didn’t know how to get to the goal. We are disappointed and angry,” he stated.
The match had started on a promising note for Milan, with Santiago Gimenez, a recent signing from Feyenoord, putting the hosts ahead. However, Conceição made the decision to substitute the Mexican forward in the second half, a move he later explained. “We had one less player. Then there was Santiago to manage, he had an adductor problem and he needs to be managed,” Conceição said. “I put João Félix up front who was fine to try and counter, but we were controlling the game anyway.”
Gimenez, despite the disappointment, stood by his coach and teammate Hernández. “Today it happened to Theo, but it can happen to anyone,” the Mexico international remarked. “As a team, we give him our full support. He always gives everything and is one of the best full-backs in the world.”
Since taking over from Paulo Fonseca at the end of December, Conceição has had a whirlwind start to his tenure. He won the Italian Super Cup in his opening games and has been striving to make his mark. However, he feels the comparisons to previous coaches are unfair. “I arrived a month and a half ago, but they make comparisons with coaches who had been here for years,” he said.
Conceição highlighted his achievements, stating, “We won the only trophy we could win, we are in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and in the league, since I arrived, we have earned 14 points and (leaders) Napoli 15.”
Despite the challenges, Conceição remains determined to improve the atmosphere at Milan. “It’s not perfect. The atmosphere here at Milan is not the best and the sending off proves it. We have to work on this. Believe me, it’s not easy, it’s not easy,” he concluded.
Originally Written by: Reuters
