Milan's Europa League campaign opens on Wednesday night with arguably the toughest fixture on their schedule, and the competition carries more weight this season than the "secondary trophy" label might suggest.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Rossoneri view the tournament as a parallel priority rather than an afterthought. Already forced into chase mode in Serie A after draws with Juventus and Lazio took the edge off a six-point start against Torino and Venezia, Milan want early momentum in Europe and are targeting around 15 to 16 points to secure a place in the round of 16 as quickly as possible.
Those two draws raised questions not just about results but about intensity and competitive edge, and the Europa League offers a chance to answer them quickly. Amorim's appointment was built on the promise of a more attacking, internationally flavoured side, and European football, where opponents tend to allow more space, may suit those qualities better than the tactical counterpunching Milan face domestically. The new coach has faced Benfica 13 times across spells at Braga and Sporting CP, winning six, drawing three and losing four.
There is history to reckon with too. Milan have never won this competition, not even in its former guise as the UEFA Cup. Their most recent run ended in the 2023-24 quarter-finals, a defeat to Roma that effectively closed the book on Stefano Pioli's tenure. Amorim will want this tournament to serve the opposite purpose.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that rotation will be limited. The Europa League is not being treated as an experimental arena; the strongest available side will play, with targeted exceptions linked to workload management.
Off the pitch, Zlatan Ibrahimovic visited Milanello on Tuesday for the first time in a while, meeting with Amorim and the squad and watching training before departing ahead of lunch. Gerry Cardinale, who has become a more regular presence at the training ground, is expected back in Milan on Sunday evening ahead of the Lecce match. After a summer of heavy investment, Cardinale is keen to see a first international trophy of his RedBird tenure. Since taking over from Elliott Management in the summer of 2022, he has celebrated a Supercoppa Italiana under Sergio Conceição and watched the club reach the 2023 Champions League semi-finals before Inter ended that run in the derby.
San Siro should provide the atmosphere the occasion deserves. More than 65,000 spectators are expected on Wednesday, with upwards of 4,000 Benfica supporters making the trip from Lisbon. It may not carry the prestige of the Champions League, but for a club chasing its first ever Europa League title, the competition starts now, and so does Amorim's chance to stamp his identity on this team in a setting that rewards exactly what he was hired to bring.