In a span of just one week, Sergio Conceicao, the new coach of AC Milan, led his team to their first trophy – winning the Italian Super Cup in a thrilling fashion with two consecutive comeback victories.
The Rossoneri, under Conceicao’s guidance, made an impressive comeback in the semifinals against Juventus and continued their momentum to defeat city rival Inter Milan in the final.
The game-changer in both matches was substitute Rafael Leao, who played a crucial role in all three goals scored by Theo Hernandez, Christian Pulisic, and Tammy Abraham. When asked about the sudden transformation of Milan’s performance, Abraham stated that they played with confidence, courage, and hunger, making them a strong team. Pulisic added that Conceicao’s emphasis on having more hunger was more important than tactics. While Conceicao had previously downplayed his relationship with the players, stating that he is not someone who hugs or makes friends, he was seen celebrating and dancing with them in the locker room after the final.
This victory marks Milan’s first trophy since their Serie A win in 2022 and their eighth Super Cup title – the first since 2016. Inter Milan, on the other hand, suffered their third loss of the season, with Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi scoring for them in the final.
Milan will now face Cagliari in their first Serie A match under Conceicao, with newfound confidence after their Super Cup win. Inter, who have only lost twice this season, will need to improve and not underestimate their opponents in the future.
