Former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has come under scrutiny during the start of his tenure at AC Milan
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim has endured a mixed start to life as AC Milan manager(Image: Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim continues to face concerns at the start of his AC Milan reign. The Portuguese coach remains unbeaten in Serie A but has yet to convince Italian media in his new job.
Milan battled back to a 2-2 draw at Lazio on Saturday, having fallen two goals behind in the first half. A brace from Diego Moreira, who was one of three half-time substitutes, rescued a point for the Rossoneri but the manager was frustrated with his team’s display.
“In the first half, we weren't ourselves, there was no energy,” Amorim said. “While in the second, it was the opposite: there was energy, we had total control of the match. We got a point but we had to do much better and you can't just play for one half.”
Milan sit fifth in Serie A with two wins and two draws apiece but Amorim has already faced criticism during his time at the club. Here, MEN Sport takes a closer look at the Italian media’s thoughts on the former United manager’s decisions against Lazio.
Gazzetta dello Sport
The positive aspects of Gazzetta dello Sport’s match report praised Amorim for his “triple coffee” at the interval. His side had been “frankly unrepresentable” in the opening 45 minutes but were much improved after the introductions of Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic and Moreira, who transformed the match “with the power of caffeine”.
Their report reads: “The good Ruben sees a frankly unpresentable Milan, already two goals down, and brings on Musah, Pulisic, and Diego Moreira, who turn the game around with the power of caffeine. Milan, which had previously been walking, sprints from that moment on. Lazio, which had previously dominated, is now suffering.”
Summing up Amorim’s work, the report said: “As for Amorim, once again his starting lineup was poor, and his substitutions were good. Whether that's a virtue or a weakness is up to you to decide.”
Corriere Della Sera
The Italian outlet placed Amorim under further scrutiny as the coach had “lashed out” at his critics ahead of the match. A “blistering” brace from Moreira was enough to secure a point but “not to erase their doubts”.
The Corriere Della Sera report says: “Twenty blistering minutes at the start of the second half were enough for Milan to avoid their first defeat, but not to erase their doubts. Amorim, on the eve of the trip to Rome, lashed out at those who criticised the Red Devils and, consequently, their work. It was a discordant statement. Rather than worry about the noise from their opponents, in the style of Mourinho, he would do well to focus on the serious shortcomings of his team, which completely miscalculated its approach and handed the first half to Lazio .
“The defence is shaky , the ball movement is slow , and the stars are betraying each other: Modric plays his worst game since arriving at Milanello, so much so that he's substituted at half-time, and Ramos is the only unexcused absence, even when the Rossoneri shake off their torpor thanks to the acceleration and goals of the extraordinary Diego Moreira.”
AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim
Amorim was praised for his substitutions but criticised for his team selection(Image: Ivan Romano/Getty Images)
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The report added: “But it's not the standings that should worry Amorim, but rather the team's struggles, which are far from what the coach wants and advertises.”
Calcio Mercato
The match report from Calcio Mercato read: “Lazio lasted only a half, the first. Milan, too, but only the second. Rarely do you see such a reversal of a match, seemingly difficult to comment on except through the extreme simplicity of the lineup choices.
“Amorim had missed a couple of goals at the start (Estupinán back and Loftus up front), both of which were crucial in facilitating Gattuso's dominance. Milan entered the dressing room stunned, but emerged revitalised by three changes of quality (Moreira and Pulisic), as well as desperation, namely Musah for Modric. A monstrous Milan became beautiful, while an aggressive Lazio slumped. Thus it finished 2-2.”It added: “It's not the only question surrounding Amorim's AC Milan, who have just tasted the ferocious social media trial. In the end, the critics ate their words after 45 minutes, and the Portuguese coach received a full acquittal: just don't repeat the mistakes (in the lineup) and the approach (of the first half).”