Sergio Conukicao refused to blame Theo Hernandez on his red card when AC Milan crashed from the Champions League after Tuesday's draw with Feyenoord.
Milan lost the first stage with 1-0 but led to aggregated in the opening minute of the return meeting in San Siro after Santiago Gimenez scored against his former side.
However, Hernandez was shown a second caution for simulation in the 51st minute before Julian Carranza went home with the only shot by Feyenoord on Doel to send the Dutch side to 2-1.
Concuyo would not place the debt on the French defender, but Rue missed opportunities in the play-off draw and their defeat against Dinamo Zagreb on the last day of match.
“It is definitely a failure, we wanted to reach the last 16,” said the Milan boss.
“This match showed that we are stronger than the opponent and that it was the episodes that decided, as in Zagreb, send away there.
'You could say that the referee [Szymon Marciniak] Was too hard, but we had to be mentally stronger. I am the one who is responsible, not Theo. Then we will see in the dressing room.
“Theo has given so much to Milan, I made many mistakes in my career. Theo's red card did not know how to reach the goal. We are disappointed and angry.”
Milan 1-1 Feyenoord FT (1- AGG)
Feyenoord is through to the #UCL round of 16 after securing a second legs against 10-man Milan in San Siro.
Arsenal or Inter Wait in the next round. pic.twitter.com/y9n28qpekl
– Opta Analyst (@Optaanalyst) February 18, 2025
Gimenez scored five goals in so many European performances this period for Feyenoord and became the very first player who scored for and against the same team in one Champions League campaign.
The Mexico attacker, however, was removed shortly after the resignation of Hernandez, so Conceicao had explained his decision.
“We had one player less. Then there was Santiago to manage, he had an adductor problem and he must be managed,” said Conceicao.
“I put Joao Felix in the front who was great to try, but we checked the game anyway.”
This was only the second time that Milan lost a Knockout stage from Champions League against a Dutch club, which previously did this in the 1994-95 final with a 1-0 defeat against Ajax.
Despite the result, Conceicao believes that he is not always fairly assessed after replacing Paulo Fonseca this season.
“I arrived a month and a half ago, but they make comparisons with coaches who have been here for years,” he added.
“We won the only trophy we could win, we are in the semi -final of the Coppa Italia and in the competition since I arrived, we have earned 14 points and [leaders] Napoli 15.
“It's not perfect. The atmosphere here in Milan is not the best and the shipping proves it. We have to work on this. Believe me, it's not easy, it's not easy.”
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