The Ultimate Test for Conceição: Can He Secure a Top Four Finish and Coppa Italia Glory to Keep Milan Dream Alive?

The Rossoneri are on the hunt for a fresh sporting director, who will ultimately pick the coach for the upcoming season. It appears that Sergio Conceição’s departure at the end of the campaign is all but a foregone conclusion. However, the Portuguese manager is determined to earn himself a reprieve for another year. To achieve this, he must guide the side to two significant milestones as the season draws to a close: a coveted fourth place finish and the Coppa Italia. Tuttosport reported this morning that these goals are no walk in the park. Currently, the last Champions League spot is six points adrift. While it’s a manageable gap with nine matches still to play, the task is fraught with challenges. The Rossoneri are staring at five teams ahead of them, meaning they must rely on at least one of those rivals to falter. A near-perfect run is essential to salvage their campaign, which hasn’t exactly been a masterclass in consistency this year. As for the Coppa Italia, things don’t look any less daunting. The Milanese giants will face their fiercest rivals, Inter, in a two-legged semi-final. While it’s true that the Rossoneri have remained unbeaten in the city derbies this season, the Nerazzurri are currently the strongest side in Italy, placing Conceição and his men at a clear disadvantage. Undeterred, the manager is keen to give it his best shot, realising that their chances of retaining his position hinge on the upcoming fixtures against Napoli (Serie A) and Inter (Coppa Italia first leg). Resource: "https://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/conceicao-ci-prova-quarto-posto-e-coppa-italia-per-restare-al-milan-571051