Ruben Amorim feels ‘really happy and proud’ after Milan’s 2-0 victory at Udine, showing why Davide Bartesaghi has this new role. ‘He is better at offense than at defence.’
The Rossoneri were feeling the strain after some far from convincing performances, including Thursday’s 3-0 Champions League defeat away to Bournemouth with up to 10 men on the hour mark.
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They got off to the perfect start in Utino, as Luka Modric took a quick free-kick for Christian Pulisic to sweep the outside of the net, then Omari Hutchinson scored the club’s first goal, tapping in a rebound from Ardon Jashari.
Goncalo Ramos also saw his effort palmed onto the post by Maduka Okoye, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek limped off in the final minutes after sustaining an injury.
Amorim, happy and proud of Milan
ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on before the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 18, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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“I’m really happy for them and really proud, because we talked about everything before the game, with the organizer from the first minute, I think today,” Amorim told DAZN Italy.
“Even when we got into the half we were tired, we continued the game, so I’m really happy with the team. Now we have to think about the next game.”
This saw Milan bounce back from a long list of absentees, 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 start of the season this evening, while Davide Bartesaghi was given the role of forward, but Milan are trying to expand their options.
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Christian Pulisic of Milan is surrounded by his teammates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Foroiuliensi on October 25, 2026 in Udinese, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
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“If you look at the schedule in Europe, it’s impossible because every game there is a new muscular injury,” Amorim noted.
“Everyone must be ready. My job is not only to prepare to win the next game, that’s what people want, but my job is also to help Milan in the future. For what we need to play, we need to have the opportunity and feel that they are important.
“We need to really work, we have a lot of injuries today, and they show that they are ready to resist the pressure to play for this club. That’s also why I’m really happy and proud, because when we’re on the field, it’s my job.
“Bartesaghi did really well today, in my opinion, he is better offensively than defensively, he is an Italian boy, and if you see that Bartesaghi needs to improve his defensive side, I think he will be more aggressive in one on one.
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“He passes really well, he has his finishing quality in training, he needs to get in the box more often. I think my problems with Bartesaghi are more defensive than offensive.”
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Christian Pulisic of Milan is congratulated by teammate Goncalo Ramos after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Foroiuliensi on October 25, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Although Milan have also dropped some points this season, they remain unbeaten in Serie A and have caught the points of Roma in thirteenth place.
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“We need time to work on many things, but sometimes also time for issues that we did not have in the last game. We learn in games, with videos, in team meetings, because for three weeks we hardly had any training. I am proud of these boys, because we pay attention to everything.”
Amorim was asked who he thinks will win the Ballon d’Aut tomorrow, but he had other things to do with him before midweek around Bologna.
“If the player is not a Milan player, I don’t care! Just worry about who is left to play in two days,” replied the coach.