AC Milan’s Champions League exit is my fault, not Theo Hernandez’s, says coach Sergio Conceicao

MILAN – AC Milan looked to be in control of their Champions League destiny on Feb 18 before the sending-off of Theo Hernandez turned the play-off on its head, although coach Sergio Conceicao refused to blame the defender for their exit.

Having lost the first leg 1-0, Milan were level on aggregate in the first minute but after Hernandez picked up a second booking for simulation in the 51st minute, Feyenoord equalised to draw 1-1 and reach the last 16 with a 2-1 overall score.

Milan could have avoided a play-off altogether with a win at Dinamo Zagreb in their final league-phase game, but on that occasion they had Yunus Musah sent off and lost 2-1.

“It’s definitely a failure, we wanted to get to the last 16,” Conceicao said.

“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.

“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. Theo has given so much to Milan. Until Theo’s red card, Feyenoord didn’t know how to get to the goal. We are disappointed and angry.”

Santiago Gimenez, Milan’s recent signing from Feyenoord, had put the hosts ahead but Conceicao took the Mexican forward off in the second half and the coach explained his decision.

“We had one less player. Then there was Santiago to manage, he had an adductor problem and he needs to be managed,” he said. “I put Joao Felix up front to try and counter, but we were controlling the game anyway.”

Julian Carranza equalised in the 73rd minute for Feyenoord, who had Givairo Read sent off in stoppage time.

Conceicao replaced Paulo Fonseca as coach at the end of December, winning the Italian Super Cup in his opening games in charge, and feels he is not always judged fairly especially after this latest setback.

“I arrived a month and a half ago, but they make comparisons with coaches who had been here for years,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Feyenoord interim boss Pascal Bosschaart was full of praise for his team’s character.

The Dutch club’s preparations for last week’s first leg were far from ideal when Feyenoord sacked Brian Priske two days before the play-off.

“This says about the team that they have character. I think that’s what I’m most proud of,” Bosschaart told Ziggo Sport.

“You have to remember that they come from a very difficult phase, have received a lot of criticism, a change of coach...

“That is a very difficult phase for them but I do think we are very clear, very transparent and very honest and this group responds very well to it, so I am proud of it.” REUTERS, AFP