Champions League Clash: AC Milan Faces Feyenoord Amid Coach Change

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — AC Milan‘s head coach Sergio Conceicao is preparing his squad for a challenging UEFA Champions League knockout match against a struggling Feyenoord, who recently appointed interim coach Pascal Bosschaart.

Feyenoord, currently in fifth place in the Eredivisie, will host AC Milan on February 12, 2025. Bosschaart, lacking senior coaching experience, steps in after the dismissal of Brian Priske, which adds unpredictability to the matchup.

Conceicao expressed the importance of the upcoming game, particularly after Milan’s missed direct qualification for the round of 16. “We have an important match, and we’re in this situation because of our own mistakes. We take full responsibility,” he told reporters on February 11.

The Portuguese manager acknowledged the impact of a coaching change on Feyenoord’s players. “The change of coach is huge motivation for players,” he said, recalling the intense atmosphere in Rotterdam when he last visited three years ago with Porto.

“It’s a fiery atmosphere. The story of this game will be written by us; it depends on what we do. If we go out there with the right attitude and do what we prepared, then we’re more likely to get a good result,” Conceicao added.

With limited options due to injuries and unavailable players, Conceicao hinted at an attacking lineup. January signings Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez are expected to join Rafael Leao in the offensive front.

“We don’t have many alternatives, because we’ve only got 15 outfield players plus the youngsters due to injuries,” he said. He emphasized the need for flexibility among coaches during challenging situations.

Conceicao praised Gimenez for his recent performance, having scored his first goal for Milan during a 2-0 Serie A victory. “Santi is a player I’ve been following for years. He’s already a top-level player, but he needs to keep working hard because the team needs him,” he said.

The match comes as part of a larger slate of Champions League games featuring European powerhouses. Bayern Munich will also be in action against Celtic, bringing attention to both matches across the continent.

Feyenoord has shown promise in recent league play, notably defeating Bayern Munich and earning a draw against Manchester City in earlier stages of the competition. However, their ability to deliver against Milan remains uncertain amid the coaching transition.

As AC Milan continues to build momentum in the new year, having only lost two of their last ten matches, they enter the match as favorites against Feyenoord. Milan has produced solid results against other top teams, showing they could be a formidable opponent on the road.

With plenty at stake and the stakes growing in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League, both teams will look to make their mark when they clash in Rotterdam.