Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição and defender Davide Calabria had a heated exchange on the San Siro pitch following AC Milan’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Parma. The tension, fueled by the adrenaline of the game, required teammates to step in and defuse the situation.

The Comeback and the Tension 

The match ended on a high note for Milan with late goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Samu Chukwueze in stoppage time, but the drama didn’t stop there. Conceição approached Calabria to address something related to his substitution for Luka Jović in the final minutes. Calabria, visibly frustrated, responded sharply, leading to an argument that escalated before teammates intervened.

This isn’t the first sign of strain between Conceição and Calabria. The decision to hand the captain’s armband to French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, sidelining Calabria from a role he previously held, has been a point of contention. Competition for his spot has also increased with the arrivals of Emerson Royal in the summer and Kyle Walker in the winter transfer window.

Post-Match Statements

Both parties played down the incident afterward:

• Calabria, speaking to DAZN: “It’s just something that happens on the pitch. A misunderstanding, nothing more. The adrenaline was high, but we’ve sorted it out. The team and the comeback are what really matter.”

• Conceição, in the press conference: “This is part of football, just raw passion. Sometimes emotions run high, and things are said, but it’s all normal. The most important thing is that the team showed character.”

A Happy Ending

Despite the fiery exchange, both emphasized the importance of the victory and downplayed the conflict. It’s clear that for them, the team’s unity and performance take precedence over any individual tension.