Amorim discusses Benfica defeat, Lecce opportunity and stopping experiments: “My job, not yours”

Ahead of the Lecce game this weekend, AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim spoke to the media about what is needed after the midweek defeat.

It’s been another difficult week for Milan, though this time it was due to the midweek loss to Benfica. A poor draw against Lazio meant something more needed to be seen against the Portuguese outfit.

Yet, it was more of the same: a confusing line-up, an underwhelming first half and a stadium left wanting more. As a result, questions about Amorim’s ‘time left’ have already begun to emerge and it seems that he may already be fighting an uphill battle in September.

Amorim previews Lecce

This weekend’s game against Lecce is vital and three points are a must. Failing that, the international break could become something of a vacuum, which the Rossoneri cannot afford again.

His words to journalists this afternoon have been relayed by MilanNews.

Mr. Amorim left a message on Mazzola’s passing…

“From the entire club and us, our condolences go to his family, to Inter, and to the entire nation. We have lost a legend of world football: that’s life, just as it happened with Franco Baresi. We must honour these figures by moving forward with our football and improving it.”

Today San Siro turns 100, and tomorrow AC Milan plays there…

“It’s an honour to be part of the history of San Siro. We want to win and play well to honour the stadium and our fans. We just want to play well and win matches.”

How were the days after the defeat? Did you speak to the dressing room leaders? How is Ruben Amorim?

“When you lose, you’re not the same person. If that’s the case, then something’s wrong. The team is ready for the match; we can’t change the past, but we can change the next match. I talk to the team all the time, not just when we lose: there are so many things we can improve on.

“We want to be ready for tomorrow night.”

Why didn’t Milan score in the first half?

“I think it’s just a coincidence. If you look at the Torino game, we were good. Against Venezia, we had two clear chances with Ramos. It’s a coincidence. In the first 45 minutes, the teams were very organised and attentive.

“Then we can change the momentum of the game with substitutions. But we still can’t concede, especially in the first half. We need to control the game a little better.”

Why rotate the squad against Benfica?

“Benfica made nine changes compared to the previous match, and we needed to rotate. We didn’t lose because of the players who were on the pitch in the first half. We had many more chances, more possession, more touches in the opponent’s penalty area.

“Sometimes you just can’t score. Benfica scored with the chances they created: it’s a question of team performance, not individual performance.”

How far is this Milan from the Milan you would like to see?

“The promise of scoring more goals and being dominant? In most games, we’ve been the most dominant. We haven’t dominated for the entire 90 minutes… Tomorrow, the priority is beating Lecce.

“We’re still building, especially in possession. Tomorrow is a great opportunity to improve our performance on the pitch.”

The meeting with Ibra…

“It was a visit from someone who works with the club. Our focus is on Lecce. That was just a visit. Contact with Cardinale? Normal things, we’re talking about club matters, nothing special.”

I wasn’t worried about the Benfica match, but about some of your comments. When you said the team wasn’t suited to your vision of football. Or when you said you might consider changing the formation. Can you elaborate on those points?

“The idea is that both things can be true. It has nothing to do with the system. My idea of playing football isn’t based on the formation, but on principles: that’s what matters. Two things can be true at the same time. I said that when you arrive at a new club, it’s impossible to have all the right characteristics in every aspect and for every eventuality.

“That’s what I said. Capello asked me a question about attacking, and I said I think we need to defend well, especially when we have the ball. I’m very clear when I say something; it will be difficult to find any of my statements that are inconsistent.

“I’m very clear on the topics, on my statements, which are very consistent.”

Is it possible to see Pulisic, Moreira, and Chukwueze together from the start?

“Everyone can play together. You know a lot of things that happen here during the week, but there’s a lot you don’t know, and I have to make my choices. They can play together. Maybe tomorrow you’ll see some of these guys play together.”

On the defensive line’s difficulties in the pressing phase…

“We’re completely changing the way we press. In some games, we’ve been better. Sometimes we’ve succeeded, sometimes it’s more difficult. When players are fresher, they perform better; when they’re tired, it’s more difficult.

“It depends on the moment of the game. We need to adapt better; we need to improve in this phase. It’s not just the defenders who need to improve, but also those up front. We need to improve our timing and understand when and how to press, but that’s normal.”

Recent coaches have had difficulty managing the Senators. Is there a risk in your relationship with the Senators? Or is everything under control?

“I’m always clear with everyone. Obviously, when you don’t play, you’re angry. They want honesty.

“Sometimes you disagree with the coach, but if you’re honest with your players, they understand. Just look at our schedule after the break; we’ll play every two or three days.

“We’ll have to be ready. There are things I see during the week; I’m aware of the players’ physical demands and their history: I have to manage all these factors. They understand my role and that I have to make decisions.”

Are the training experiments over after all these rumours?

“What is the best formation in your opinion?”

Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic. Chukwueze, Modric, Rabiot, Moreira. Pulisic, Cisse. Ramos.

“Chukwueze has played three games. If he has a problem, who do you put in?”

Saelemaekers.

“On the right? Open? To play one-on-one? And in midfield?”

Modric.

“And what did you say last week about Modric and his speed? Every week there will be a different lineup. How do you manage three games a week? How do you manage the substitutions? I know it’s not your job, but mine. I just want to explain these things to you.

“We can have this conversation every day. Trust me, no one wants to win more than me. I don’t just think short-term, but long-term. And I think about what’s best for the club, not for myself. Tomorrow I’ll choose a lineup thinking about the fact that I’ll want to push harder in the second half.

“I try to have balance in everything, win and help the players. And sorry for all this. It’s my job, not yours. But you’re not that far from tomorrow’s starting eleven.”

There has not been a Milan that has always dominated…

“Against Juve, they were better at the small things, even though we had more possession. Against Lazio, it was a different game; they were two completely different halves. But you’ll never see our team waiting. We’ll always try to press, maybe not always doing it to our best.

“Against Benfica, they were deeper and more compact, waiting for us to make a mistake. Maybe the opponent is different; maybe we’ll try different things. But if you watch the games, even Juventus and Lazio, we were always the team that tried to control the game.

“The intention is there; it’s there. We can improve our fluidity. Against Benfica, we had more touches in their penalty area, more shots, more possession, more corners. But no one cares, and in the end, I don’t care either. We need to create more chances.

Inter, Roma, Napoli, Como, and many other teams are ahead of Milan in terms of killer passes into the opposition box. Is this where Ramos’s difficulties lie? Is it a work-related issue? Should he work a little less for the team and the team work more for him?

“We need to create clearer chances for him and help him. I’m not saying Ramos needs to work less for the team to be fresher, but he needs to spend more time near the opponent’s penalty area, like we do in training.

“We need to improve the understanding between the players. In the last match, we saw—I don’t know if you remember—a ball from Pulisic to Cisse, who didn’t understand the intent; another ball to Pavlovic, who controlled poorly, as well as Rabiot on two other occasions, who didn’t direct the control well.

In other games, we haven’t had as many touches in the opponent’s penalty area: we need to improve in this area. Against Benfica, we need to improve these plays. Sometimes it’s not just the passing, but receiving the ball better in the box.

“Koni also had a great chance in the box, as did Pulisic. Benfica had a shot from outside the box with the defence lined up and then scored with four defenders looking at their wingers.

Were you really angry about that goal?

“Very much. But I think you were too. You saw the game. We need to control these situations better. And please don’t say I’m criticising the players; I’m just reporting the match. The most important thing for me is to recover positions and my players are working very well and there is no doubt about their commitment on the pitch.”