AC Milan snatched a 3-2 victory over Atalanta, but that scoreline barely tells the story of an evening that had coach Ruben Amorim revealing a tense discussion with midfielder Adrien Rabiot after the game. Milan surged to a dominant 3-0 lead, including a Goncalo Ramos penalty that Marco Carnesecchi initially parried, with Ramos, Rabiot, and Mario Gila all finding the back of the net. However, the Rossoneri almost completely imploded in the final half-hour, as Gianluca Gaetano and Nikola Krstovic brought Atalanta back to 3-2, and only a desperate Mike Maignan save on Davide Zappacosta prevented a humiliating equalizer.
Momentum Shift and Missed Opportunities
Amorim confessed on DAZN Italia and Sky Sport Italia that while the result is always most important, they absolutely have to dissect the performance. He insisted the final minutes don’t erase the improvements the team has been showing, even referencing a similar feeling against Sassuolo. Yet, he was clear: those shaky final minutes give them “a clear idea that we have a lot of work to do.” The whole vibe of the game completely flipped after Atalanta’s first goal. Before that, Milan was totally controlling things, even closer to bagging a fourth goal than letting one in. But Amorim pointed to some really bad decisions, especially in the build-up, that handed Atalanta chances. That’s a critical area they’ve got to sort out.
This tight win comes right off the back of a solid 4-0 Europa League victory away to RB Salzburg just Thursday, where Amorim had rotated the squad with numerous changes. He credits that squad rotation with helping a lot, saying the players are working incredibly hard. He acknowledged that changing their pressing strategy takes time, but felt they are understanding the right moments to press much better, which then helps them get into the correct positions on the field. The coach believed the momentum shift wasn’t just about tiredness, but a fear of conceding when they really should have been pushing for that fourth goal. Even with fresh midfielders thrown into the fray, the tension was palpable, not just on the pitch but echoing through the stadium from the fans.
Rabiot’s Frustration Boils Over
Adding another layer of drama to the evening, Adrien Rabiot himself told Sky Sport Italia that he was “angry” about the team’s second half performance, flat out warning that Milan needed more from their substitutes. Rabiot had his own fiery moment on the touchline with Amorim just before Atalanta’s second goal. He’d picked up a yellow card for dissent and was visibly irritable, showing his frustration for everyone to see. When asked if he considered yanking Rabiot, Amorim made it clear Rabiot is “a really important player.” He explained that they spoke to Rabiot after half-time, reminding him that as an experienced guy, he knows he can’t just stop every play when he’s already on a yellow. Despite the tension and the booking, Amorim concluded that Rabiot was simply “too important today to change him.”
So, Milan grabbed the three points, but it was far from smooth sailing. Amorim and Rabiot’s post-game comments show there’s plenty for the team to chew on. They’ve got to tighten up those bad decisions and find a way to maintain their intensity, rather than letting fear creep in when they’ve built a solid lead. The improvements are there, but the work is clearly far from over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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