AC Milan’s early season has already settled into a familiar routine: after each match, Gerry Cardinale and Ruben Amorim review the team’s performance, either in person or remotely. The defeat to Benfica in the opening round of the Europa League made that conversation considerably more searching than the previous ones.
Cardinale spoke with the Milan coach by telephone on the afternoon after Tuesday’s loss at San Siro. The format of their contact did not change, but the discussion carried greater weight after a night in which Milan again struggled to give consistent form to the football promised at the beginning of the campaign.
The owner did not enter into a tactical debate. Amorim remains the reference point on that subject and Cardinale is prepared to listen to his coach’s explanations. Instead, the focus fell on the manager’s personnel decisions and on the gap between the resources invested in the squad and the players initially left out.
Milan’s summer business has given Amorim a group that is not regarded as complete or packed with stars, an assessment shared within the club. Even so, the sight of expensive recruits beginning Tuesday’s match on the bench required an explanation. Amorim provided one in his usual detailed manner.
Patience remains, but the demand is for progress
There is no immediate threat to Amorim’s position and no internal process has begun over a possible change on the bench. Yet Milan’s leadership expects the team to develop as the season takes shape.
Both Cardinale and Amorim had set out an ambition to establish a particular identity and style of football. So far, it has only appeared in spells. Cardinale was unhappy with the display against Juventus, feeling it too closely resembled the Milan of last season.
He was also dissatisfied with the attitude and organisation shown during the first half against Lazio in Rome, as well as in the opening period against Benfica. The draws with Juventus and Lazio could be managed, if without much satisfaction; the European defeat has sharpened the need for a response.
Cardinale is not demanding instant perfection, but he wants clear, steady improvement. Milan’s Sunday evening match against Lecce now becomes an important early checkpoint, particularly with Serie A approaching an extended international break. Another setback would leave Amorim facing a far more difficult climate around the club.
