Sergio Conceicao's First Week: Comeback, Fever, Cigar, And Italian Super Cup Trophy

Sergio Conceicao donated the Italian Super Cup trophy in his first week as AC Milan coach (Instagram/@acmilan).

JAKARTA - Sergio Conceicao closed an extraordinary first week at AC Milan as coach by lifting the Italian Super Cup (Supercopa) on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

The trophy ended a period that included two comeback wins, fighting fever, injury, and smoking cigars in the dressing room.

Conceicao replaced Paulo Fonseca who was sacked as manager on Monday last week.

Despite suffering from pain and high temperatures, he sat on the bench to lead Milan to a semifinal victory of the Italian Super Cup over Juventus 2-1 on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Milan came from one goal behind to beat Juventus, but things looked much worse in the final.

They found themselves two goals behind their city rivals Inter Milan after conceding two goals in the first two.

"This team has a character, they managed to win the game against two great teams in the end."

"In the first half, the coach had to change a few things, that's why they paid me," Conceicao told Mediaset.

Conceicao's troops again showed their fighting spirit, equalized to 2-2 and when the game entered injury time aka on the verge of a penalty shootout, Tammy Abraham scored a dramatic winning goal.

Milan's players and staff celebrate the victory with Conceicao who looked emotional at the final whistle. However, the manager suffered an injury and needed treatment on the bench before rejoining his team.

"Emerson Royal gave me a red card. I am very happy for the players because it is not easy."

"We only had a little time to work on the details that were important to me. All the credit for them."

"There is still a lot of work to be done, but with humility, we can do well in the Champions League and Serie A," Conceicao said.

After a win over Juventus, Conceicao said he was not a good person and didn't smile much.

However, in the dressing room after lifting the Italian Super Cup, the manager danced while smoking cigars as the celebration continued.

"At the end of the game, the players immediately told me I had to smoke cigars."

"They know that I did this ritual when I raised my title. This is my 13th title as a coach. I am happy and this has a special taste for me," Conceicao told a news conference.

Conceicao will oversee their first Serie A match at the San Siro against Cagliari on January 12, 2025.

Since coming earlier this month, Conceicao has never led AC Milan in the league. He has only played two Italian Supercopa matches which all took place in Saudi Arabia.