Sergio Conceicao refused to blame Theo Hernandez for his red card as AC Milan crashed out of the Champions League after Tuesday's draw with Feyenoord.

Milan lost the first leg 1-0 but levelled on aggregate in the opening minute of the return meeting at San Siro after Santiago Gimenez scored against his former side.

However, Hernandez was shown a second caution for simulation in the 51st minute before Julian Carranza headed home with Feyenoord's only shot on target to send the Dutch side through 2-1 on aggregate.

Conceicao would not place the blame on the France defender, however, rueing missed chances in the play-off tie and their defeat against Dinamo Zagreb on the final group-stage matchday.

"It's definitely a failure, we wanted to get to the last 16," the Milan boss said.

"This match showed that we are stronger than the opponent and that it was the episodes that decided, like in Zagreb, sending off there, sending off here.

"You could say that the referee [Szymon Marciniak] was too harsh, but we had to be stronger mentally. I'm the one responsible, not Theo. Then inside the locker room we'll see.

"Theo has given so much to Milan, I have made many mistakes in my career. Until Theo's red card, Feyenoord didn't know how to get to the goal. We are disappointed and angry."

Milan 1-1 Feyenoord FT (1-2 agg)

Feyenoord are through to the #UCL round of 16 after securing a second-leg draw against 10-man Milan at San Siro.

Either Arsenal or Inter await in the next round. pic.twitter.com/y9N28qPEKl
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) February 18, 2025

Gimenez scored five goals in as many European appearances this term for Feyenoord and became the first-ever player to score for and against the same team in a single Champions League campaign.

The Mexico forward was removed soon after Hernandez's dismissal, though, leaving Conceicao to explain his decision.

"We had one less player. Then there was Santiago to manage, he had an adductor problem and he needs to be managed," Conceicao said.

"I put Joao Felix up front who was fine to try and counter, but we were controlling the game anyway."

This was just the second time that Milan lost a Champions League knockout stage tie against a Dutch club, previously doing so in the 1994-95 final with a 1-0 defeat to Ajax.

Despite the result, Conceicao feels he is not always judged fairly after replacing Paulo Fonseca this season.

"I arrived a month and a half ago, but they make comparisons with coaches who had been here for years," he added.

"We won the only trophy we could win, we are in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and in the league since I arrived, we have earned 14 points and [leaders] Napoli 15.

"It's not perfect. The atmosphere here at Milan is not the best and the sending-off proves it. We have to work on this. Believe me, it's not easy, it's not easy."