Samuel Chukwueze delivered a timely reminder of his quality on Friday night, inspiring AC Milan’s stunning 3-1 comeback win over Bologna at San Siro with a brilliant late cameo — and earning rare praise from manager Sergio Conceição, Soccernet.ng reports.
Chukwueze, who has endured a frustrating second half of the 2024-25 campaign, was finally given a chance to impress after weeks of being left out.
Despite being fully fit, the Nigerian winger had not started any of Milan’s previous 15 Serie A matches and had played just 111 minutes in total across seven appearances — spending the full 90 minutes on the bench in eight of those games.
But with Milan trailing 1-0 to Riccardo Orsolini’s early second-half strike, Conceição introduced Chukwueze with 25 minutes left in a bold triple substitution that also saw Santiago Gimenez and Kyle Walker enter the fray. The response was immediate — and emphatic.
Within eight minutes, Chukwueze’s low, deflected cross found Christian Pulisic, who teed up Gimenez for the equaliser. The American forward then got on the scoresheet himself to complete the turnaround, before Chukwueze capped a memorable night by assisting Gimenez again for Milan’s third.
Serie A: What AC Milan boss said about Samuel Chukwueze after thrilling Bologna comeback
The Nigerian’s direct running, flair, and urgency injected much-needed energy into a previously lacklustre performance — and was not lost on his manager.
Speaking after the game, Conceição told reporters: “I have embraced everyone. He (Chukwueze) should be given a very positive word, like the others who came in.
“He hasn’t played for a long time and wanted to show the coach that I was wrong not to put him in in that game. It’s a good sign to have these doubts in the starting line-up.”
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Chukwueze’s assist was his first in Serie A this season and just his second in all competitions. But this impact may have given Conceição pause for thought ahead of a crucial run-in.
The result lifted Milan to eighth in the Serie A standings with 60 points, only three behind fourth-placed Juventus in the race for Champions League qualification. Bologna remain in seventh, two points ahead of Milan, with just two league games remaining.
Perhaps most importantly, Chukwueze’s performance offers Milan renewed hope going into the Coppa Italia Final — where they will meet Bologna once again. The Rossoneri have not lifted the Coppa since 2003, and the Nigerian winger’s display could yet prove decisive in ending that long wait.
For Chukwueze, the final also offers a golden opportunity to turn a difficult season into a redemptive one and claim his second title with Milan following their triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana.
