Milan Holds Off Atalanta After Late Collapse at San Siro
AC Milan secured a nervy 3-2 victory against Atalanta at San Siro, dominating the opening 66 minutes before surviving a dramatic late fightback from the visitors. Ruben Amorim’s side built a comfortable three-goal advantage before defensive lapses and mounting panic allowed Atalanta back into the contest.
Amorim Balances Result With Performance Concerns
AC Milan played what manager Ruben Amorim described as the best 66 minutes of their season before a sudden shift in momentum. Speaking to Sky Sport, Amorim emphasized that the final result remains the priority despite the nervy finish.
“The result is the most important thing, but we have to analyze the performance,” Amorim told Sky Sport. “We played well for the first 65 minutes, then perhaps we were tired, and the game’s momentum changed.”
Amorim defended his tactical choices, including starting Moreira at left-back to track the opponent’s fast wingers, and praised his squad rotation between European and domestic fixtures. However, he admitted his team panicked after conceding.
“On 3-1, everyone started to feel fear,” Amorim told DAZN, according to ANSA. “We should have thought about controlling the match with possession and scoring the fourth.”
The Rossoneri manager also addressed the post-match comments of midfielder Adrien Rabiot. “When he speaks at the end of the game, he is emotional, and I like emotional players,” Amorim stated in his press conference reported by Sky Sport.
Rabiot Criticizes Team Mentality After San Siro Squeaker
Midfielder Adrien Rabiot did not hide his frustration after the final whistle, delivering a sharp critique of Milan’s second-half collapse. Speaking pitchside to Sky Sport, the French international questioned the team’s mental resilience.
“In the last 30 minutes, we lost the thread of the match, and that is a problem because we did very well in the first half,” Rabiot said. “If we play a second half like that, it’s worth nothing. Fortunately, we won this match, but in the end, I don’t know if we deserved it that much. That’s why I’m a bit angry, because we cannot collapse like this in the second half.”
Rabiot insisted the breakdown stemmed from psychological factors rather than physical exhaustion. “It’s not a physical question, but a mental one,” Rabiot added. “I had already said against Sassuolo, I think, that we had to improve on these things, on mentality. Even those who come on must do more, enter the game well.”
Maignan Saves Milan From Complete Collapse
While Milan controlled the early proceedings through goals that established a 3-0 lead, the final twenty-five minutes exposed recurring defensive vulnerabilities. Corriere dello Sport highlighted a crucial save by goalkeeper Mike Maignan against Raoul Zappacosta that prevented an equalizer after Atalanta scored twice to narrow the gap to 3-2. The victory leaves Milan unbeaten in seven Serie A matches under Amorim, with their sole defeat across nine total fixtures in all competitions coming against Benfica.
Udinese Fixture Awaits Rossoneri
AC Milan turns its attention to the next domestic fixture as the squad prepares to travel to face Udinese. The upcoming opponents enter the match in a difficult run of form, while Milan attempts to translate a dominant 66-minute display against Atalanta into a complete 90-minute performance on Sunday.
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