Ruben Amorim used the eve of Saturday's trip to Lazio to make one point very clear: the criticism he is facing at Milan does not compare with what he already experienced at Manchester United. Speaking ahead of Lazio Vs Milan, he said the pressure is normal and that receiving more criticism than he did at Old Trafford is impossible.
The timing matters because Milan go into a difficult away match against a Lazio side that has made a perfect start to the Serie A season. Lazio have taken nine points from their first three matches, a run that stands out in club history because it is only the third time they have opened a league campaign with three consecutive wins. The previous such starts came in 1974-75 and 2012-12.
Milan's start has been more uneven. They beat Torino and Venezia before drawing 1-1 with Juventus, leaving them with seven points from their first three Serie A matches. That leaves Amorim with a team that still looks capable of controlling games, but one that is already being asked to show more consistency in the final third.
Pressure, but no panic
Amorim's comments were less about complaining and more about setting expectations. He said what he can promise is that the team will always come first and that his intention, as requested, is to play attacking football and score. He also stressed that the side has a clear idea and that nothing is left to chance.
There was a tactical note in his remarks as well. Amorim said that while Milan want to play forward and create chances, the opponent can change the rhythm of a match. He pointed to the quality of the opposition, saying that sometimes the other team is simply better and can force Milan to drop deeper, without changing the club's overall intent.
Historical scoring context
The build-up to Lazio Vs Milan also included a look back at a few scoring streaks that help place the fixture in context. Maurizio Ganz scored in each of his first three away Serie A appearances for Milan in January and February 1998, while Krzysztof Piatek did the same in February and March 2019. Those examples underline how unusual it can be for a player to make such a strong start on the road.
For Lazio, the current run is already noteworthy on a team level. Three straight wins is a rare opening for the club, and it gives Saturday's match extra weight. For Milan, the challenge is simpler to describe but harder to solve: respond to the pressure, stay connected to the plan, and leave Rome with a result that matches the expectations around the team.
Amorim also reserved praise for Gennaro Gattuso, calling him a legend of Milan and an important image for the team at this moment. He added that talent is not everything, and that the passion and aggression Gattuso showed as a player are qualities Milan must carry into their own style. In Amorim's view, those traits matter now just as much as technique.
