Simply "unacceptable" The word comes directly from the mouth of Ruben Amorim, who also used it in his post-match interviews. The point was then reiterated, in even more direct tones, to the team behind closed doors in the dressing room. Unacceptable is the way Milan approached a match (the one against Ferencvaros) that was crucial to getting their faltering European campaign back on track. "We were not ready to play football," admitted the Portuguese coach. Who, naturally, also includes himself in the criticism. "Perhaps I did something wrong in the last few days," Amorim's self-accusation.
Amprim's confrontation
Beyond the words said for appearances, the Rossoneri coach wanted to understand, by looking his players in the eyes, the reason for such a disappointing performance. From Cisse to Jashari, from Musah to captain Rabiot, Amorim pressed his players on why, after such an exhilarating victory as the one in the derby, there had been a match... completely unworthy of Milan.
As he also explained after the match, the first issue addressed by the coach was the approach. From the opening minutes, the Diavolo appeared at the mercy of the Hungarian pressing, unable to find solutions, ending the first half without even a single shot on target.
Neither the collective attitude nor that of certain individuals was appreciated: Alphadjo Cisse, one of the main protagonists of the start of the season and fresh from his first call-up to the national team, stood out only for his yellow card and was substituted at half-time, despite having played just a handful of minutes in the derby.
The Italian international is barely 20 years old, and Amorim had already given him a bit of a warning in the past to prevent him from getting too carried away by his dazzling start in the Rossoneri shirt. On Thursday, his substitution after 45 minutes said even more than the Portuguese coach's end-of-match speech.
But in the same boat as Cisse are Bartesaghi, Terracciano, Jashari, Musah... Be careful, however, not to think that Amorim pointed the finger exclusively at those who play less and/or started against the Hungarians. "Rotation has nothing to do with it," the former Manchester United coach said clearly and bluntly in the press conference after the defeat. Also because, if the first half was something horrifying, the defeat took shape in the second half, when Gila, Modric and Pulisic came on. Starters who could not be more established as starters.
A Fresh Start
Now attention immediately turns to tomorrow's away trip to Genoa, the final commitment before the international break, as per Gazzetta dello Sport today.
The subject was not addressed during the confrontation between Amorim and the team in the depths of San Siro, but it is clear that everything was intended to bring about an immediate reaction, starting at the Ferraris.
Attention will then have to turn back to the Cup, keeping in mind what the Rossoneri coach also declared publicly, with the microphones on.
"Right now we are not ready to play every three days, but I certainly will not give up on the Europa League. Until it is over, we will fight."
The same determination will have to be passed on to his players.
Because, as Amorim himself said, "If you play wearing the Milan shirt, you have a responsibility. You cannot go onto the pitch like that." How can anyone disagree with him?
