GdS: ‘A Portuguese Conte’ – Milan go for next best option in ‘winter of discontent’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte was heavily requested by AC Milan fans in the summer, but the club opted for a different direction. That decision backfired, and now they have got the next best thing, perhaps a better thing.

Milan fans were quite clear with their demands in the summer. With Stefano Pioli leaving the club, the Rossoneri had to move forward in the coaching department and appoint a winner, so when Julen Lopetegui was mentioned, the reaction was understandably frustration.

The reaction to Paulo Fonseca was not much better. A coach that did not fit the demands of the fans, but a better option than the Spaniard. Whilst his football was frustrating and results were often below the required standard, there was a level of respect for the coach, but this could not be enough to save him.

So when Sergio Conceicao’s name reappeared, the Diavolo swarmed at the idea. With many believing that he should have been the summer alternate to Conte.

Now that he is through the door, and brought silverware back to the Rossoneri shortly after it, fans are back believing in the project.

As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, Conceicao is ‘a Portuguese Conte’, a coach not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. The new head coach is similar in ‘how he relates to the group and how he lives games’, which are some of the key traits of the now Napoli man.

Of course, there will be frustrations over how long a deal took to get this sort of manager, but there can be faith in the fact that the right outcome eventually prevailed.