Amorim's harsh defence critique overshadows Milan clean sheet

Ruben Amorim praised AC Milan’s 2-0 home win over Venezia yet warned his back three still have work to do, keeping his 100 per cent record in charge after a clean sheet at the San Siro.

Frustrating first half for the Rossoneri

After a sluggish opening period the Rossoneri struggled to create clear chances, leaving their half largely unoccupied. Amorim admitted the team “left our half completely free, we mark man to man, so we have a lot of work to do.” The lack of possession mirrored Venezia’s intent to disrupt Milan’s rhythm.

Ramos breaks the deadlock

In the 69th minute Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos, the club‑record summer signing, netted his first goal for AC Milan since his reported £60million arrival from Paris Saint‑Germain. The strike gave the visitors a lead and marked a milestone for the newcomer.

Later, Ardon Jashari surged forward, his effort rebounding off Venezia defender Redouane Halhal for an own goal, sealing a 2-0 victory that moved Milan to the top of Serie A.

Ruben Amorim could reunite with two former players at Milan in January

Amorim’s blunt assessment of his defence

Despite the three points, Amorim was “bizarrely” critical of his back‑three, describing moments when they were “like spectators waiting to see what happens in front of them.” He added, “We need to improve the way we defend crosses in the box, and have to spend time in training on that.” The backline of Mario Gila, Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic featured throughout.

The Portuguese manager, formerly of Manchester United, kept his perfect start – two wins in as many competitive matches – after a 2-1 triumph over Torino and now the Venezia win. His 3‑4‑2‑1 system remains under scrutiny, echoing criticism he faced during his Man United tenure.

Getty images later showed Amorim pointing to the defensive line, reinforcing his message that “sometimes they are just looking at the play, like spectators.” The comment sparked England defender Fikayo Tomori, long‑time Milan stalwart, is now listed as a transfer target for Aston Villa.

With the victory, AC Milan sit atop Serie A ahead of weekend rivals, a promising start for Amorim as he rebuilds his career in Italy after his high‑profile sacking by Manchester United.