Amorim: ‘Really proud of Milan, Bartesaghi better offensively than defensively’

· FootballItalia

Ruben Amorim feels ‘really happy and proud’ with Milan’s 2-0 victory away to Udinese, revealing...

The Rossoneri were feeling the strain after some far from convincing performances, including Thursday’s 3-0 Europa League defeat away to Bournemouth when down to 10 men for over an hour.

They got off to the perfect start in Udine, as Luka Modric took a free kick quickly for Christian Pulisic to spring the offside trap, then Omari Hutchinson scored his first goal for the club, on the rebound from an Ardon Jashari strike.

Goncalo Ramos also saw his attempt palmed onto the crossbar by Maduka Okoye, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek limped off in the final minutes after sustaining an injury.

Amorim happy and proud of Milan

> “I am really happy for them and really proud, because everything we talked about before the game, being competitive from the first minute, I think we did that today,” Amorim told DAZN Italia.

> “Even when we got tired in the second half, we controlled the game, so I am really happy with the team. Now we have to think about the next game.”

This was a reshuffled Milan due to the long absentee list, which included Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira, Mario Gila, Samuel Chukwueze, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pietro Terracciano.

Sankhoun Diawara and Fikayo Tomori had their first Serie A starts of the season this evening, while Davide Bartesaghi was given a more advanced role, but Milan are trying to expand their options.

> “If you see the schedule in Europe, it’s impossible, because every game there’s a new muscular injury,” noted Amorim.

> “Everyone needs to be prepared. My job is not just to prepare to win the next game, that is what people want, but my job is also to help Milan in the future. For that, they need to play, they need to have the opportunity and feel that they are important.

> “They need to work really hard, we have a lot of injuries today, and they showed they are ready to cope with the pressure of playing for this club. That’s also why I am really happy and proud, because when we are on the field, it is my responsibility.

> “Bartesaghi did really well today, I think he is better offensively than defensively, he is an Italian boy, and if you see Bartesaghi I think he needs to improve his defensive side, be more aggressive in one against one.

> “He crosses really well, his finishing has quality in training, he needs to get in the box more often. I think my problems with Bartesaghi are more defensively than offensively.”

Although Milan have dropped a few too many points this season, they remain unbeaten in Serie A and have caught Roma on 18 points in joint third place.

> “We need time to work on several things, but we don’t have time sometimes even to address the problems we had in the last game. We are learning in the games, with videos, in team meetings, because for three weeks we have barely had any training. I am proud of these lads, because they are paying attention to everything.”

Amorim was asked who he thinks will win the Ballon d’Or tomorrow, but had other things to concern him ahead of the midweek round against Bologna.

> “If it’s not a Milan player, I don’t care! I just worry about who survives to play in two days,” replied the coach.

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