Rúben Amorim: Milan exhausted from the first minute after 2–4 home loss to Bologna
The AC Milan coach blamed a congested schedule and injuries for the lack of freshness ahead of the derby with Inter.
AC Milan coach Rúben Amorim admitted his side looked physically drained from the very start of Sunday's 2–4 home defeat to Bologna, the club's first Serie A loss of the season.
Amorim points to fixture congestion and injuries
“Too many matches and too many absent players. It was extremely difficult for us. From the first minute I felt that the team was tired and that it lacked energy. We conceded quick goals, we tried to react and had a great chance through Camarda, but the congested schedule affected us seriously,” Amorim said, acknowledging the strain on his squad.
He warned that the situation is uncertain ahead of the derby with Inter. “We must face reality. I still do not know what squad I will have available for the match against Inter. Tomorrow we will assess the players’ condition, and we will have two days to prepare. We are concerned about the situation, but we are fully focused on the players who are available to us,” he added.
Amorim rejected the idea that injuries alone explain the defeat, stressing the loss of freshness and the team's limited ability to rotate. “I am not saying we lost only because of injuries, but because of a lack of freshness and the inability to make the necessary rotations. It is difficult for us to maintain a high press constantly, and when we stop imposing our style, we suffer. A new coach cannot completely change the game in just a few months. Sometimes mistakes are not purely tactical but the result of fatigue. Still, that is not an excuse — we owe it to be ready for the derby,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Portuguese coach demanded an immediate response. “We will prepare with the resources and time we have. It is our duty to go onto the pitch and fight for the win. I believe in the future we will be an extremely strong team, and when everyone is fit, we will be ready to compete in every match. No excuses. We lost 2–4 at home, and for a club like Milan that is unacceptable. We will do everything in our power to win the next match,” Amorim concluded.
Photo: press material from the event
