Milan rediscover their winning form, their goals, and above all a response after a difficult few weeks. The 3-0 win over Lecce, sealed by Pulisic, Rabiot and Moreira, allows the Rossoneri to head into the international break with 11 points and just two points off the top. A convincing performance, particularly in terms of consistency and game management, which Ruben Amorim welcomed with satisfaction. Eusebio Di Francesco, on the other hand, offered a very different assessment, acknowledging the limitations of Lecce’s display.
Amorim: “We Are Improving”
“We didn’t just keep the ball — we were also good at running back. We attacked and defended well. We still have a lot to do, but we are improving.”
The Portuguese head coach highlighted the team’s ability to be more complete than in recent outings: not just ball possession, but also intensity, defensive coverage and attacking ability.
“In the last few matches we were a bit stuck.”
Amorim does not consider the early-season results a major setback: “We haven’t lost that many points so far. We drew away against Lazio and Juventus. It’s not all bad. We deserved more points.”
He then praised Luka Modric, once again a key figure: “Modric is ready to play every match in which we’ll need him. Games with low defensive blocks, like tonight, are made for him. Matches with fast transitions are less suited to his characteristics.”
On his squad selection, the coach stood firm: “The decisions are always mine to make.”
Di Francesco: “We Were On and Off”
Lecce‘s manager painted a difficult picture of the evening: “We were on and off throughout the game, and that’s simply not good enough here.”
Di Francesco acknowledged the attacking shortcomings: “We never gave the impression of being dangerous.”
He pinpointed one of the main issues in the pressing phase: “We lacked urgency in winning the ball back and in our pressing triggers — they got out easily.”
Depth was also approached very differently by the two sides: “They attacked in behind, while we barely did it at all. In the second half we managed it a bit more, but the second goal knocked the wind out of us.”
On Pulisic‘s opener — a stunning first touch from Pavlovic‘s long ball — Di Francesco acknowledged the quality of the Milan forward: “For Pulisic’s goal, our defender had a three-metre advantage when the ball was played. We were well positioned, but Pulisic made an excellent first touch and finished it off well.”
Finally, the Lecce coach looked at the gap between the two sides without making excuses: “The differences between the teams are clear and we cannot compare ourselves to Milan. The right mentality is essential, and when you come here you need to be braver. That’s something we need to work on.”
The 3-0 result leaves two very different pictures: Milan rediscover confidence and consistency, while Lecce return home aware of the need to raise their level — particularly in terms of attitude and the ability to create chances.
