He may have lost (badly) two Europa League matches; he may have changed his lineups perhaps too many times, especially in the first outings. However, Ruben Amorim, and this is a fact, is third in the Serie A standings and, above all, has not yet lost. Looking at the history of Milan over the last 65 years, this is no small detail. Quite the opposite.
With Sunday's victory in Udine, achieved amid a full-blown injury crisis, the Portuguese coach has reached eight consecutive league matches without defeat.
From 1961 to today, only Luis Carniglia, back in the 1963–64 season, did better than Amorim in his debut on the Rossoneri bench. The Argentine, who won two European Cups while managing Real Madrid and also coached Fiorentina, Roma and Juventus in Italy, put together thirteen matches without losing, although he was later dismissed after 23 rounds and replaced by Nils Liedholm.
Moreover, the Swede, in his first experience as a coach, started with six consecutive positive results and, in this particular ranking of the best debuts at Milan, has now been overtaken in second place by Amorim.
The former Sporting and United coach has therefore started better than all the greatest managers who have passed through Milanello: better than Maldini (5), Rocco and Ancelotti (4), but also Zaccheroni and Trapattoni (2), Sacchi, Capello, Allegri and Pioli (1), as pointed out via Tuttosport in this morning's print edition.
Clearly, to write his name in the Rossoneri club's record books, Amorim will not only have to put together more matches without defeat. He will need to maintain consistency in results, accumulate points and bring Milan back to the Champions League at the very least, starting tonight at San Siro against Bologna.
Gerry Cardinale wants to win, but seeing Milan competitive again and high up in the standings is clearly the first objective. After watching the victory in Udine, Cardinale returned to Milan to attend today's match, the presentation of the new stadium project tomorrow and Saturday's derby.
Furthermore, he has finalized Pulisic's contract renewal until 2031 with the club's directors and the player's entourage, and he will soon try to do the same with Veronique, Rabiot's mother and agent, with the Frenchman being one of the leaders of this Milan side.
The Frenchman will not be there tonight, nor will any of the other unavailable players (Gila, Gabbia, Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Moreira and Saelemaekers).
Milan and Amorim hope to recover some players for the match against Inter (namely Gila, Moreira and Rabiot himself) but in the meantime, they will have to overcome Bologna today.
Several changes are expected, also to avoid further injuries: Pavlovic, who has been heavily used, could get a rest, with young Diawara in the centre and Estupinan at left-back.
Musah could play in midfield in place of Modric, while Alpha Cisse could play as an attacking midfielder in place of Pulisic. There is also a selection battle between Gonçalo Ramos and Camarda.
