Conceicao asks for united front after AC Milan miss out on Europe
AC Milan were beaten 3-1 by Roma on Sunday, which means that they are mathematically unable to qualify for Europe in Serie A.
AC Milan head coach Serio Conceicao has called for a united front among supporters after Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Roma condemned them to a campaign without European football next season.
The Rossoneri are ninth in the Serie A table following that defeat, five points behind sixth-placed Lazio with one game remaining. It has been a season to forget.
The defeat comes soon after they were beaten 1-0 by Bologna in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday and Conceicao has acknowledged the negativity surrounding the club.
"The mood was not easy to deal with after the final, with incidents not just then, but throughout my five months here that did not go our way," Conceicao told DAZN.
"They are always negative for us and positive for the opposition, either through our own errors or those of others."
Despite the outcome of the season being a disappointing one, the Portuguese head coach suggested that the season had not been all bad since he arrived in January.
"I am not saying it was a good season or perfect five months, absolutely not, but there were some positives too. We won the Italian Super Cup, we reached the Coppa Italia final, but when it came to the key games, there were negative moments.
"I don’t want excuses, I am passionate about football and it saddens me that I cannot be there with my players. We must try to be united in a season that was not easy and take responsibility."
With a touchline ban hanging over him for the final match of the season at home to already-relegated Monza, it is possible that Conceicao could have been in the dugout at AC Milan for the last time.