Head Coach Ruben Amorim Criticizes AC Milan’s Lackluster Performance Against Ferencvaros
AC Milan’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, expressed frustration following his team’s 2-0 defeat in the Europa League against Ferencvaros at San Siro. “There is no explanation. We were not prepared to play football. We are not ready to play every three days,” he stated after the match.
The loss marked a stark contrast to Milan’s previous 3-1 victory over rivals Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, showcasing the team’s ongoing struggle for consistency. Lenny Joseph capitalized on defensive missteps and goalkeeping errors to score both goals for Ferencvaros, as 21-year-old Lorenzo Torriani filled in for Mike Maignan, who was suspended, and Pietro Terracciano, who was injured.
Amorim’s disappointment was palpable as he addressed the media. “I don’t remember us playing any other first half performances like that. This is about ambition, concentration. We gifted opportunities, made stupid errors. We were not prepared to play football tonight.”
The coach found it bewildering to reconcile this performance with the team’s recent success against Inter. He acknowledged the difficulties of transitioning from a demanding derby match to European competition. “Quite simply, we were not ready to go from the derby to this competition,” he added, highlighting the burden of the Milan jersey and the responsibility that comes with it.
In the wake of the disheartening result, Amorim took some responsibility for the team’s lack of readiness. “Probably I didn’t do enough to make sure the team was ready,” he admitted.
Despite injuries limiting his options, Amorim conceded that the team struggled to compete effectively in the Europa League, as evidenced by three defeats in their opening four matches. “We are not ready to be competitive on two fronts. We have to work on our approach and the way we view football. There are no excuses tonight,” he stated.
Reflecting on the historic tendency for Milan to excel in big games only to falter against lesser opponents, Amorim expressed his intention to address these recurring issues. “Perhaps I did something wrong over the last two days, but I saw the team had similar problems last season. We have to find a solution. We showed no courage, and if we don’t win, we should at least do everything we can to turn the situation around,” he said.
The match also marked a notable absence of defender Strahinja Pavlovic, who had been a consistent presence on the field until that point. “Everyone ought to train like Pavlovic. He is ready to die in training, he sets a good example,” Amorim noted, emphasizing the need for all players to adopt a similar mindset, regardless of whether they start.
Looking ahead, Amorim recognizes the challenges that lie ahead in both Serie A and the Europa League. “We can and must win games despite squad rotation. We have to be ready, and right now we are not, to play and win every three days. I will not give up on this competition, though, so as long as it is mathematically possible, we will fight in this competition just like the others,” he concluded.
