Amorim: ‘Milan completely different, but need control for Modric’ to work | OneFootball

Ruben Amorim admits Milan were ‘a completely different team’ when clawing Lazio back from 2-0 down, but ‘without control, it’s not the game for Luka Modric.’

The Rossoneri had a dismal first half performance at the Stadio Olimpico, trailing 2-0 to Matteo Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin goals, jeered off the pitch by their own fans.

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Diego Moreira of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

However, a triple substitution at the break changed everything, as Diego Moreira scored twice in as many minutes, with Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah also making a strong impact.

It is the second consecutive stalemate for Milan, after their 1-1 with Juventus, but while that felt like fumbled points, this was clawed back from the brink.

Amorim recognises Milan problems

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Ruben Amorim, Manager of AC Milan, looks on before the Serie A match between AC Milan and Venezia FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I heard Gila speaking after the game, so I’m really happy with his understanding of the game,” Amorim told DAZN Italia.

Specifically, Gila said they were “honestly disastrous” in the first half, so it seems his coach agrees.

“The energy in the first half was honestly not there, we lost so many possessions without any pressure, simple passes. They went past our defenders too easily, but the second half was the opposite. We had energy, we controlled the game, it was a completely different team and a completely different game,” replied Amorim.

“We managed to secure one point, but if you look at the game, we need to do better. You cannot play just one half.”

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: SS Lazio head coach Gennaro Gattuso during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

It was the season debut for Pulisic, who had struggled with injury after the World Cup with the USMNT.

The new coach is still trying to find his best shape, as today he used Adrien Rabiot in midfield, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Pervis Estupinan were again error-prone, but Luka Modric made a surprising number of mistakes too and was substituted.

“We need to be really good with the ball in order to feel comfortable in the game. If we change hands all the time during it, then it’s not the game for Luka,” confessed Amorim.

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Reda Belahjane of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Alphadjo Cisse of AC Milan during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

“We changed the way we present ourselves in the second half with Musah, because we understood we needed a little more pace in the middle. Also, Luka was really near the centre-backs, then it was four players to start one play, less space between the lines.

“We can play with Luka, we proved that in the previous matches, but we have to control the game and have possession. If we transform the game into runs, he has no chance in the game.”

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Luka Modric of AC Milan in action during the warm up before the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Diego Moreira played on the right in his disappointing debut against Juventus, but seemed far more at ease tonight on the left.

“It depends, today the space was outside and because he has a left foot, he opens the field a little bit. He’s fast, and his cross is more the outside, whereas Chukwueze has a different kind of cross, bending inside,” explained the coach.

“Sometimes it’s better, especially here in Italy when there are good defensive lines, but I was not thinking about the foot on the crosses today, I was thinking about the pace and having an extra winger on there.”

ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Davide Frattesi of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Goncalo Ramos of AC Milan during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Goncalo Ramos made very little impact this evening and was taken off in the final minutes for Francesco Camarda.

“We need to spend more time near the box. We spend a lot of time with the ball, but far from the box, so we need to create more connections inside the box. You can put a lot of crosses in, but we need more variations, sometimes with corner runs from Pulisic and Alpha, but also Ramos is going to improve during the season.”