Ruben Amorim made his competitive debut as AC Milan’s new manager on Sunday, securing a victory, though Italian journalists were far from impressed with his performance.
The Portuguese strategist joined Milan following his dismissal from Manchester United in January. His squad had defeated United in a pre-season encounter earlier this month and appeared to carry that confidence into the opening match of the campaign. Teenage starlet Alphadjo Cisse stole the show, finding the net on his Serie A debut as Milan secured victory with two goals in quick succession.
The Lombardy side controlled proceedings throughout but found goals hard to come by until the 64th minute, when substitute Adrien Rabiot delivered a cross for Cisse to finish. Three minutes later, Rabiot turned provider into scorer with a neat close-range volley.
Amorim became the first overseas manager to win their first league match with Milan since 2009. Nevertheless, Italian publications criticised his team selection and questioned his tactical approach, suggesting there were significant areas requiring improvement.
The Serie A side claimed three crucial points in Turin, with Calciomercato acknowledging the positive outcome while questioning the initial selection. The outlet noted that aside from Cisse, who compensated with his goal and standout display in a demanding position previously filled by Rafa Leao, the starting eleven was questionable. When established players including Luka Modric, Rabiot, Alexis Saelemaekers and Matteo Gabbia entered the match, the team transformed and saw out the victory comfortably.
Corriere della Sera expressed reservations about the former United head coach’s approach, suggesting his team selection against Torino raised questions about creative direction and tempo control. The newspaper noted the irony of seeing experienced campaigners Modric and Rabiot watching from the substitutes’ bench, while Torino, managed by Ignazio Abate, displayed superior organisation and tactical clarity. The report suggested Amorim would develop and adapt, but questioned when his side would truly compete when he eventually showed greater tactical awareness.
Quotidiano Sportivo observed that Milan controlled the match without threatening sufficiently. The Rossoneri failed to dominate their opponents despite maintaining 75 percent possession for most of the first hour. When Amorim introduced Modric, Rabiot and Saelemaekers, the side opened up and the contest shifted in their favour. Milan encountered difficulties down their right side in the closing stages, surrendering several promising opportunities before the final whistle. Securing all three points in five second-half minutes represented a satisfactory outcome given the squad’s developing fitness and the absence of several key figures. More fluid attacking play would emerge as the season progressed, particularly with greater involvement for Goncalo Ramos, though the manager had already responded positively through his substitutions.