MILAN (AP) - Cup experts will take over the serial runner-up when AC Milan plays Bologna in Wednesday's Italian Cup final.

And, both teams will seek trophy for the first time in decades.

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Bologna has not won the Italian Cup since 1974, its final major trophy.

Since then, Milan has won many trophies, but has canceled the Italian Cup 22 years ago for the last time - losing two finals in the following years.

However, this time, Rossoneri is led by a cup specialist coached by Sérgio Conceição.

Indeed, Conceição has brought Milan to a trophy this season - winning the Italian Super Cup in January a week after being appointed as a coach.

That was the 12th trophy of the 50-year-old coach, who participated in nine cup matches.

Conceição also canceled seven trophys along with Porto and Lazio.

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But even if Milan finished the season with two trophys in five months under Conceição, it may not be enough to save the Portuguese coach’s work.

Milan is eighth in Serie A, with two rounds remaining, with only a small chance to compete in the Champions League or any European competition.

Winning the Italian Cup will give Milan a place in the Europa League and in a season saving Rosony never competed in Serie A or Europe in the knockout round, abandoning the Champions League by Feyenoord in the knockout playoffs.

“It’s not a moment to talk about my future,” Consey said. “Now, we’re just thinking about the finals of a team that’s hard to face.

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"I have my own personality and personality, I changed things, you need time, but in Milan, you don't have time. … In Milan, it's important to win the trophy and we have a great chance on Wednesday."

Conceição, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano was underperforming in the final.

Italiano never won the Cup in his match days, and as Fiorentina coach, he lost the Europa League final in 2023 and 2024 and finished second in the 2023 Copa Italy.

The second meeting of the week

Roma's Cup final will be in the team's second meeting in less than a week.

On either side of the Christian pulsation strike, two goals from Santiago Giménez gave Milan a rally 3-1 defeat to Bologna and severely suppressed the opponent's chances of qualifying for the Champions League again.

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"When we were leading, we thought we could control it, and Milan didn't give the impression of attacking," Bologna Dec Riccardo Orsolini said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.

"We gave them a spark to reignite them and we slice them. If we were playing in Rome, we would be slapped. We've learned about what we shouldn't do."

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