ROME — New head coach of AC Milan, Sergio Conceição, experienced a surge of emotion as he dropped to his knees along the San Siro sideline and let out a triumphant shout after Samuel Chukwueze scored a late winner in stoppage time. This moment followed a hard-fought 3-2 victory against promoted Parma, showcasing Milan’s resilience despite earlier inconsistency in Serie A.
Conceição has faced challenges in instilling his tenacity into a team that has sometimes faltered. However, he was visibly touched as his squad managed to maintain concentration down the stretch, netting two crucial goals in the dying minutes to secure the win against Parma. The coach’s intensity was further highlighted in the moments after the game, where he was seen in a heated discussion with Milan’s captain, Davide Calabria, indicating his passion for the team’s performance. “It’s similar to being a parent at a restaurant when your kids misbehave—you yell at them,” Conceição reflected. “Perhaps we were a bit too intense. Nonetheless, we’re fostering a strong relationship with the players.”
Conceição’s leadership also led Milan to significant wins earlier this month, including victories over Juventus and Inter Milan, clinching the Italian Super Cup. Additionally, a recent triumph against Girona propelled Milan into the top eight of the Champions League standings. U.S. international Christian Pulisic, who converted a penalty in the first half, emphasized the need for the team to capitalize on their momentum earlier in matches. “We tend to have this energy at the end, turning games around, but we could simplify things for ourselves,” he noted.
AC Milan previously secured a notable 3-1 victory against Real Madrid and triumphed over Inter in a derby earlier this season. However, the team also faced some disappointing outcomes, like a draw against Cagliari and a loss to Juventus. Following the win over Parma, Milan temporarily returned to contention for a Champions League spot, while Parma remained precariously above the relegation zone.
Chukwueze’s winning goal came as Milan aggressively pushed forward in the closing moments, with Strahinja Pavlovic providing a crucial setup that allowed Chukwueze to score from close range. Prior to that, Tijjani Reijnders had equalized for Milan after sneaking past the offside trap. The match was challenging for Milan as Matteo Cancellieri had earlier given Parma the lead, reminiscent of his winning goal in their previous meeting in August. Pulisic managed to equalize before halftime, but Parma regained the lead in the 80th minute with a rebound goal by Enrico Delprato.
Looking ahead, Conceição and his team are bracing for a pivotal encounter against Inter in another derby next Sunday, followed by a crucial Champions League matchup against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.
In related Serie A action, Inter Milan convincingly defeated struggling Lecce 4-0, thanks to goals from Davide Frattesi, Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries, and Mehdi Taremi. This victory placed Inter just three points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, who defeated Juventus 2-1. Furthermore, AS Roma secured their first away win of the season with a 2-1 triumph at Udinese, supported by second-half penalties from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Artem Dovbyk after a first-half goal from Lorenzo Lucca for Udinese. Lastly, Fiorentina claimed a 2-1 victory over Lazio, with early goals from Yacine Adli and Lucas Beltran, while Lazio’s Pedro nearly tied it with a shot that hit the post at the end of the match.
