Legendary Milan manager Fabio Capello believes the fallout from the Rossoneri’s 3-2 win over Parma is unacceptable. Following the full-time whistle, manager Sergio Conceicao and defender Davide Calabria appeared to exchange heated words on the pitch, something Capello finds disrespectful, as explained in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“The unsightly scene with Calabria overshadowed the match, but the Rossoneri coach was right about substituting Theo and Leao
It was not a pleasant spectacle to witness, both during and after the 90 minutes. AC Milan secured a comeback victory against Parma at San Siro, and while these are three crucial points in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, the poor performance before the two late goals and the confrontation between Conceicao and Calabria after the final whistle cannot be ignored by fans and observers alike. These incidents are symptomatic of underlying tension.
It’s abnormal to see a coach lash out in such a manner, in full view of everyone, against one of his players. Certainly, in football, arguments – even heated ones – occur, and I’m the first to acknowledge this, but they should take place behind closed doors in the locker room, not in front of cameras. In post-match interviews, both protagonists downplayed the incident. However, I remain convinced that this episode is indicative of evident tension and, more importantly, excessive nervousness on the part of the coach.
Why is Conceicao so on edge? I believe it stems from the Portuguese manager’s difficulty in getting the team to follow his instructions. Milan is not executing what their coach demands: they press insufficiently when losing possession, lack aggression, and don’t display the competitive drive and will to win matches. You might argue that out of seven matches under Conceicao, the Rossoneri have won five. But let’s examine how: on four occasions, Milan fell behind and then overturned the result. What does this mean? That today, they are a team of reaction rather than action. The quality of play is lacking; if they don’t receive the first blow, they struggle to wake up.
Even yesterday, the comeback was achieved more through impetus than quality, thanks in part to the grit of a leader like Pavlovic, the true positive note of the day. The most talented players – Theo and Leao – were no longer on the field. Substituted at halftime after 45 minutes that were unacceptable in every aspect, starting with their attitude. Regarding the double substitution, I side with Conceicao, although I know that the left flank is, at least on paper, Milan’s true strength. I think the teammates received the coach’s message well: if you play superficially, you’ll be removed, regardless of who you are. A courageous, admirable move. But Fonseca had also done something similar, and in the end, it served little purpose. Leao has always been inconsistent, but I’m much more concerned about Hernandez, who seems to be playing with his mind elsewhere.
I would add that if two coaches face the same problem, the doubt isn’t just about the seriousness of the issue, but also about the real possibilities of resolving it. What can be done? Can the club intervene in some way? It’s hard to say. The coach’s position remains crucial. In my opinion, Conceicao, with a strong decision like substituting the two stars at halftime, gained points in the locker room. But if you then seek a confrontation with one of your players, you risk ruining all the good you’ve sown.”
