In Milan, where European nights are usually measured against a long memory, Benfica’s 2-0 win on Wednesday has left Rúben Amorim’s side with an early and uncomfortable question: how quickly can a new project begin to look convincing? The defeat came in the opening round of the Champions League league phase and added continental weight to an uneven start at home.
Milan sit sixth in Serie A after four matches, with two victories and two defeats. Roma and Inter lead the table, four points ahead of the Rossoneri, and the gap is already enough to bring scrutiny to a team still adapting to a different footballing identity.
Time requested for Amorim’s Milan
Amorim is not presently in danger of losing his job, but Milan’s senior figures have made clear that results must improve before the season is allowed to drift. The Portuguese coach replaced Massimiliano Allegri and arrived with a mandate to shape a longer-term rebuild rather than simply manage the next fixture.
That intention is reflected in his deal. RedBird, Milan’s owners since 2022, gave Amorim a contract running to 2028, the longest agreement the investment group has awarded to a coach since taking control of the club. Such a commitment does not remove all pressure from the bench, particularly at a club of Milan’s scale, but it underlines the belief that Amorim remains the right figure to lead the project.
The former Sporting Portugal and Manchester United manager has also received public backing from RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale in recent weeks. For now, the message from the club is one of patience, tempered by the expectation that Milan must soon turn a changing style of play into points in Italy and Europe.
