- Milan beat Parma in a nail-biting 3-2 win before tensions boiled over on the pitch
- New signing Walker was a spectator at the San Siro as infighting broke out
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AC Milan‘s new manager had to be held back by his own players as he tried to square up to the Rossoneri captain following Milan’s late win over Parma.
Sergio Conceicao’s early career as Milan boss has not been without drama since taking over at the end of December. In his first two games, he guided Milan to the Supercoppa Italiana, with Tammy Abraham scoring in the 93rd minute to pip fierce city rivals Inter Milan in a derby final.
However, things have taken a sour turn at the San Siro, with chaotic scenes of infighting witnessed during the aftermath Milan’s clash with relegation-threatened Parma on Sunday.
Two stoppage time goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Samuel Chukwueze spared Milan’s blushes as Conceicao’s side snatched a dramatic 3-2 comeback win – but it wasn’t all smiles at full-time.
As the whistle blew, an apoplectic Conceicao made a beeline for Davide Calabria – Milan’s skipper with over 270 appearances – trying to square up to the Italian defender in moment of madness.
The pair mouthed off to each other before being pulled apart by teammates, with former Chelseaman Abraham among those trying to calm the Portuguese boss down.
Sergio Conceicao and Davide Calabria had to be separated at full-time in a heated exchange
Samuel Chukwueze’s last-gasp winner sealed the points for Milan against Parma, but that wasn’t enough to stop tensions boiling over between manager and skipper at full-time
It acted as a damning reality check for Milan new boy Kyle Walker, who watched on from the stands following his loan move from Manchester City last week.
Both player and manager have since come out and addressed the situation, although presented differing reactions to the on-field scrap.
Conceicao seemed to spin the fight in a positive light, comparing it to a father-son quarrel.
He told DAZN: ‘Sometimes with the adrenaline that comes during games, you have to live with passion in this sport, I think it’s a good thing.
‘It’s fine with me because it was an in-game situation.
‘As it is with your kids: if they’re behaving badly, you have to act on it. I am direct, they know that we are creating a bond and the spirit showed by the end.’
Calabria, on the other hand, was much more apologetic and put the argument down to an overload of adrenaline.
‘Honestly, these are things that happen on the field: a misunderstanding between the two of us, we cared a lot about this match,’ he said.
Calabria was apologetic after clashing with Conceicao after the final whistle at the San Siro
Kyle Walker was in the stands to watch his new teammates in action in their win over Parma
‘The adrenaline was pretty high, and we cleared things up. We just didn’t understand something between us. We sorted it out.
‘It won’t be the first or last time something like this happens. It’s common in football.
‘I also apologise because it’s not a nice thing. The most important thing is the team and turning the match around.’
The long-term repercussions of the incident remain to be seen, with it a possibility that Calabria – a natural right-back – could be about to lose his place in the team to former Manchester City captain Walker.