To reconquer Europe. With morale high after the triumph in Saturday’s derby, Milan want to reclaim their international DNA and forget a start to the Europa League in which they recorded one win and two defeats in the first three matchdays.
Amorim and his men are not yet at the do-or-die stage, but a failure to win against the Ferencváros team, who surprisingly have maximum points, would make reaching the top twenty-four more of an uphill struggle and reaching the top eight, who qualify directly for the round of sixteen, almost impossible. Considering that the Rossoneri have won seven Champions Leagues in their history, none of the other teams entering Europe’s second cup competition has a similar trophy cabinet. Moreover, the Portuguese coach reached the final with Manchester United two editions ago, then lost to Tottenham.
Milan and Amorim, therefore, must “honour” the Europa League differently from their last away trip to Bournemouth, when they suffered a clear defeat, also (but not only) the result of Maignan’s red card after half an hour. This afternoon, at a San Siro with 50,000 spectators expected in the stands (the away section is sold out, with 4,200 tickets sold; there will be more than 5,000 Hungarians throughout the stadium), the 'Diavolo' must win by making the most of the enthusiasm in the air at Milanello after Saturday’s city derby.
The former United coach tried to dispel it to get his players to concentrate solely on the Europa League, but the atmosphere in the final training session was that of the best days, with De Winter celebrated with “pats” on the back for the birth of his daughter, Moreira for his goal in the derby, Diawara for his fine performance in the first city derby of his career, and Amorim’s assistant, Carlos Fernandes, for the planned corner routine that led to Rabiot’s goal to make it 2–0.
A turnaround...
The post-derby enthusiasm must therefore be transformed into attention and determination ahead of the return of the Europa League. Because in the cup Milan do not want to rack up further embarrassments like those against Benfica and Bournemouth. The Rossoneri’s history does not allow it, and Cardinale would not appreciate another performance like those against the Portuguese or the English either. That is why, while rotating the squad ahead of Sunday’s match in Genoa against the red-and-blues, the coach from Lisbon will not remove all the team’s reference points: De Winter in defence, Musah and Rabiot in midfield, and Ramos in attack will be involved from the start, as pointed out via La Gazzetta dello Sport. Then, compared with Saturday, seven changes, including the forced one between the posts, with Torriani replacing the suspended Maignan, and Jashari coming in for Modric, who needs to be preserved. The six players absent through injury reduce the possibility of rotating, but at the same time, despite fielding a line-up with a considerably lower average age than the one in the derby (23.6 years compared with 28.1 in the city derby), Amorim prefers not to throw the eighteen-year-olds Camarda and Comotto into the fray from the first minute. His objective is to help Gonçalo Ramos find scoring consistency, as he has not had a shot on target in the last two matches, and so Camarda will have to wait some more. As for Comotto, experience is needed in midfield, with Rabiot and Musah too important to be replaced.
Milan needs prestige and money
Between the 2024–25 Champions League and this Europa League, the Rossoneri have won only one of their last six matches played. Certainly not a record worthy of Milan. A Europa League win is worth 450,000 euros from UEFA (150,000 for a draw): figures far removed from the rewards guaranteed for equivalent results in the Champions League (2.1 million and 700,000). The earnings at the end of the competition are not comparable either, given that the Champions League finalists can collect between 120 and 125 million in total; whoever lifts the Europa League can, at most, exceed 40 million. Winning Europe’s second cup competition, however, guarantees direct qualification for the 2027–28 Champions League, without having to secure a place among Serie A’s top four. It also gives the right to play in the European Super Cup final, which guarantees 4 million to each of the two participants.
Returning to the Champions League, the great mission that was failed last season, must be accomplished this year. Also because of sponsors and the importance of the brand, two aspects in which Cardinale is very interested. Because the objective is to win a trophy, preferably the league title, but putting the Europa League in the trophy cabinet would certainly not be bad either.
