AC Milan’s first Europa League win under Ruben Amorim arrived with a clear scoreline in Salzburg, where Alphadjo Cisse’s hat-trick and Gonçalo Ramos’ goal sealed a 4-0 away victory. Yet the Portuguese coach treated the evening as a step in a longer process, praising the squad’s response while pointing to areas that still require attention.
A decisive night in Salzburg
Milan left Austria with four goals, a clean sheet and an important first European success of Amorim’s tenure. Cisse, the former Catanzaro attacking midfielder, was the central figure with three goals, while Ramos completed the scoring.
Amorim felt his side had been more ruthless rather than necessarily more impressive than in previous outings.
- Milan controlled the match and converted their opportunities effectively.
- Amorim said the team had produced better displays in other games, but had been more accurate in Salzburg.
- The result was Milan’s first Europa League victory under the Portuguese manager.
- Ramos added one goal to Cisse’s three in the 4-0 result.
Amorim’s message to Cisse and the squad
Cisse’s performance gave Milan one of the standout individual displays of the night, but Amorim was careful not to turn the praise into a final judgement. The coach said the player owed him nothing and was earning his place through his own work.
“He is taking his opportunity,” Amorim said. “He can be very explosive and he has a lot of heart. Tonight he deserves all the compliments, but he can improve both in training and in matches. He has enormous potential.”
The manager also explained why rotation has become essential amid a crowded fixture list. In his view, the wider group must understand that every player can be called upon, particularly as Milan try to sustain their campaign across domestic and European commitments.
The Salzburg win, he added, should strengthen belief throughout the dressing room. Amorim highlighted the value of the result for younger players and for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whose aggressive work without the ball was specifically noted by the coach.
Positive signs, but work remains
For all the satisfaction of a four-goal away win, Amorim did not overlook the moments that troubled him. Milan gave the ball away on several occasions near their own penalty area and encountered difficulties while building from the back.
- Amorim believes matches like this can raise the players’ confidence.
- He said the benefit extends beyond the scorers, including young members of the squad and Loftus-Cheek.
- Loftus-Cheek was praised for his intensity in the defensive phase.
- Milan must still improve their circulation and reduce risky losses of possession close to goal.
The assessment reflected Amorim’s broader approach: the result matters, especially in Europe, but it does not erase the details that will shape the rest of Milan’s season.
Camarda’s starting chance
Francesco Camarda was also handed a place in the starting line-up and received encouraging words from his coach after the final whistle. Amorim believes the former Lecce forward already understands the flow of a match and knows how to position himself in the penalty area.
His next area of development, however, is physical. Amorim said Camarda needs to progress in explosiveness, pace and rhythm, despite having the capacity to run for the full 90 minutes.
“He reads games well,” Amorim said. “We are working on his explosiveness, his speed and his rhythm. In the box he knows how to move and understands many things, but that physical element was missing at times tonight.”
In Salzburg, Milan found goals, rotation and renewed confidence. Amorim’s post-match verdict made clear that the victory should be used not as a finishing point, but as a platform for the work still ahead.
