It was a Thursday to remember for the Milan players away on international duty, especially Alphadjo Cisse and Gonçalo Ramos. Both played decisive roles and both found the net, respectively for Italy’s Under-21 side and Portugal.
It was welcome news for Amorim, who, after seeing Christian Pulisic return to sparkling form in the latest league match, was also treated to fireworks from two other key figures in Milan’s attack.
Cisse has been one of the revelations of the early season, both for Milan and for an Italy Under-21 side in which he is beginning to demand more and more playing time. Against Armenia, coach Baldini did not include him in the starting line-up, but sent him on at half-time, when things were not looking particularly promising for Italy. The Azzurrini needed all three points, while Armenia’s defensive wall seemed determined not to give way.
Cisse entered the pitch with a mission: to settle the match and keep Italy in contention for a place at the European Championship.
And this is what he did. Almost immediately, he struck the angle of post and crossbar with a curling effort similar to the shots he has already displayed in the league. He then won a penalty, although Koleosho saw the resulting spot kick saved. Cisse later forced the Armenian goalkeeper into another excellent save with a fine diagonal effort.
Then, in the 46th minute, when almost everyone had given up hope of the breakthrough arriving, he finally blasted the ball into the net with a thunderous strike, triggering an explosion of joy from his teammates and the Italian coaching staff.
Mission accomplished for Cisse.
Italy can still hope to qualify directly for the European Championship, although to do so they will need to finish top of their group. On Monday, it will become clear whether the youngster can produce more fireworks against Poland, but his goal against Armenia has already sent a little message to Amorim, as pointed out via Tuttosport in this morning's print edition.
So far, the Milan coach has placed considerable faith in the former Catanzaro player. Cissé himself, speaking to Rai, said he was delighted with how things have been going.
“What has this start to the season given me? A lot of joy, but I’m convinced that what I’ve shown so far isn’t even 70% of what I can do. I can do much better. I’m sure that, with time, I’ll show many other qualities that I haven’t yet been able to demonstrate.”
With Saelemaekers injured, Loftus-Cheek showing few encouraging signs, and Diego Moreira being tested in several different positions, Cisse is likely to receive plenty of playing time when Milan return to league action, and in the Europa League.
And if Cisse is in fine form, Gonçalo Ramos is in absolutely sensational form.
In fact, if tensions are currently running high between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team (as well as between Jorge Jesus and the Portuguese Football Federation) Ramos may deserve at least some of the "blame." He has now taken possession of the centre-forward role for Portugal and has no intention of giving it up. He simply keeps scoring.
Against Norway: one goal.
Against Denmark: another goal, plus an assist.
He keeps stamping his name on the scoresheet almost as routinely as Checco Zalone stamping documents at the post office, while Cristiano Ronaldo apparently grew tired of watching from the sidelines and packed his bags.
Ramos’s current connection with the goal can only be good news for Milan, because he will carry that confidence with him when he returns to the club.
Meanwhile, Amorim is considering his options. The foundations of his Milan remain built around a 3-4-2-1 formation, although against Lecce the coach showed that he is open to more flexible tactical solutions.
One possibility could be the 4-2-3-1 formation tested in the friendly against Padova. Such a system would allow Cisse to play either on the left or just behind Gonçalo Ramos, alongside one of Chukwueze or Moreira, with Pulisic operating from the right. Will Amorim use it against Sassuolo? Perhaps. What is certain is that the Milan coach now has an attacking trio in excellent form on which he can build.
