Conceicao laments “mistakes” after Feyenoord defeats AC Milan.

Conceicao laments “mistakes” after

Conceicao laments “mistakes” after Feyenoord defeats AC Milan.

After being held to a draw by Feyenoord in the second leg of their elimination play-off at San Siro Stadium. AC Milan was eliminated from the Champions League.

In just 36 seconds, the Italians overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first leg last week when. Santiago Gimenez scored the fastest goal of the season against his old team in the Champions League.

However, Milan’s full-back Julian Carranza, a Feyenoord substitute. Headed in the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute to give Feyenoord a 2-1 aggregate victory after Theo Hernandez was dismissed in the 51st minute for two yellow cards.

The Dutch team will either play Arsenal or Inter Milan next month, depending on the outcome of Friday’s last-16 draw.

“I made a lot of mistakes, and it is a major defeat for me,” Milan manager Sergio Conceicao stated.

“I am to blame for this loss. Mentally, we ought to have been better. It is up to me, not Theo or anybody else, to make this elimination. Theo has given Milan a lot, thus I am the one at fault.”

Gimenez’s effort gave Milan, the seven-time European winners, the ideal start.

Malick Thiaw nodded Christian Pulisic’s ball to the back post back into the danger zone. Allowing the Mexico international to score his sixth goal of the season from close range. Prior to leaving Feyenoord in the winter transfer window, he scored five goals in Feyenoord colors.

Tijjani Reijnders and Joao Felix came near as Conceicao’s team tried to take the lead overall. But Hernandez’s ferocious effort in the 23rd minute bounced against the upright.

Timon Wellenreuther denied Rafael Leao in the final moments of the first half. And Kyle Walker’s low shot from the edge of the box early in the second half put the. Feyenoord custodian to the test once more.

Six minutes after the restart, Frenchman Hernandez was given a second booking for simulation. Which gave the Dutch team, led by interim manager Pascal Bosschaart, a boost.

For the first time since 1974, Feyenoord took use of the numerical advantage when. Carranza met Hugo Bueno’s cross and hammered a header past Milan captain. Mike Maignan to advance his team to the round of 16 of the top European championship.

But Givairo will not be among them. Tensions between the teams erupted after the final whistle. And the right-back was sent off for violent behavior, which led to the last-16 draw.

Milan’s troubles with the upset continue.

Milan, long a dominant force in European football, has only advanced to the. Champions League’s round of 16 once since the 2013–14 campaign.

That was under Stefano Pioli. Who helped them win their first Serie A championship in eleven years in 2022. And guided them to the 2022–2023 semifinals.

But since Pioli left at the end of the previous season following a five-year stint. The Rossoneri have not been able to reach such heights. Conceicao, a former Porto manager, has become their second manager this season after Paulo Fonseca was fired in December.

Milan was ninth in the Serie A standings when Conceicao took over, and even if their recent performance has improved, they still face the possibility of losing out on playing in Europe the following season.

At the moment, Milan is five points behind fourth-place Juventus and a spot in the Champions League for the following season, and one point behind sixth-place Fiorentina, who hold the spot for the Conference League play-off round.

Conceicao will be under even more pressure with this disappointing early Champions League departure, even though he won the Italian Super Cup by defeating Inter Milan immediately after his appointment.