Sergio Conceicao capped an incredible first week at AC Milan by winning the Supercoppa Italiana but felt his players deserved all the credit.
Milan's 3-2 win over city rivals Inter on Monday saw the Rossoneri claim silverware just a week after Conceicao's appointment.
Conceicao replaced the sacked Paulo Fonseca last week and despite his illness and high fever, he took his place on the bench to lead Milan to a 2-1 victory over Juventus in the semi-finals on Friday.
Milan came from a goal down to beat Juventus but things looked decidedly worse in the final as they fell two goals behind, but Tammy Abraham's stoppage time sparked a stunning turnaround in Riyadh after Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic leveled up Rossoneri to a higher level.
“The team has character, it finally managed to win games against two great teams,” Conceicao told Mediaset.
“During half time the coach has to change certain things, that's why they pay me.”
1 – Sérgio #Conceição is the Milan manager who has played the fewest games to win a trophy in the history of the Rossoneri club in all competitions since 1929/30; the previous record was Montella (in the 18th match he won the Italian Super Cup in December 2016). Hit. pic.twitter.com/2XJADGVGed
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 6, 2025
Milan's players and staff celebrated with a visibly emotional Conceicao at the final whistle, but the coach – who later danced in the dressing room with a cigar in his mouth – suffered an injury and required treatment on the bench before returning joined his team.
“Emerson Royal gave me a red card,” Conceicao said, laughing.
“I am very happy for the players because it was not easy, we had little time to work on the details that were important to me.
“The credit is all theirs because they absorbed my instructions. There is still a lot of work to be done, but with humility we can do well in the Champions League and in the competition.”
Reflecting on his cigar-smoking celebrations, the former Porto boss said: “At the end of the game, the players immediately told me to smoke a cigar; they knew I do this ritual when I win a title,” Conceicao said. a press conference.
“It is my thirteenth title as a coach; I am happy and it has a special touch for me.”
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