Ruben Amorim spoke at Milanello on the eve of the derby against Inter, backing the support he has received from Cardinale and acknowledging that the team’s recent results have caused real pain.
Responding to Cardinale’s support
Cardinale used the Top Gun analogy to describe the ups and downs of the season, and Amorim agreed with the comparison. “I really appreciate Cardinale’s support. We already knew, and everyone here has the clarity to understand it, that we cannot build solid foundations if we have to live with these kinds of problems in the middle of the season. It will take time, inevitably, but at the same time we want to win every single match: when we do not manage that, we will continue to feel it deeply and take it to heart, however painful it is.”
He added that the process will be gradual. “It will be like that for a while. We need time to help the team grow and improve, and we know that good things take time to find the right balance and hit the mark. I think it is a good analogy and makes perfect sense, but that does not erase the pain of defeat. It is still there, it still hurts, but we must be extremely clear with our fans and make them understand that it will take time.”
A unique derby in Milan
Amorim described the Milan derby as a special fixture, pointing to the shared city and the shared stadium. “I think it is a special match because it is played in the same city, and yesterday we saw the plans for the new stadium. It is a unique rivalry, but there is also a deep connection: two great teams in the same city sharing a stadium. I don’t think you can find a situation like that anywhere else. It really is special.”
He compared the atmosphere with his experiences elsewhere. “If we look at Portuguese culture, the feeling is the same: the sense of responsibility to win and the passion of the fans are very similar. The football culture here is closer to Portugal’s. In England it is slightly different: the contest is fierce, but the spirit remains a little more sporting. Here you feel that Latin element that we also experience in Portugal, so I really think it will be a special match.”
Injury and selection updates
Amorim confirmed that Gila, Rabiot and Moreira are ready to rejoin the squad. He said the staff will make the final decision the following morning. “They are ready to join the squad. We need to assess tomorrow morning whether they can start or what the game plan will be. Of course, I already have an idea, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
Energy levels and preparation
Asked whether the team had regained the energy it lacked on Wednesday, Amorim stressed that circumstances should not matter in a fixture like this. “Everyone knows it is a special match, a special moment, and when you come to play it, the circumstances don’t matter, whether you’re tired doesn’t matter. You have to go out there and perform at your best, and we will. As I said, I sensed it from the first minute of the match against Bologna, watching from the bench. We cannot lose a match like that. We cannot afford to concede two goals in two minutes. We can do much better, and there are lots of small details I have already discussed with the team.”
He pointed to a lack of training time as the underlying issue. “Since we returned from international duty three weeks ago, there has simply been no time to train. And I’m not saying other teams are in a different position; I’m talking about us: I feel there are many little things we are missing simply because we don’t have time to address them in training. So it is not just a question of energy, although I noticed that too, because energy can also mask a lot of shortcomings. But there are so many aspects we need time to work on if we want to become a better team.”