Donadoni: Amorim deserves patience, but Milan must find consistency
Roberto Donadoni says Ruben Amorim needs time to impose his ideas at Milan, but wants fewer fluctuations in results as the Rossoneri prepare to face Bologna.
Roberto Donadoni has called for patience with Ruben Amorim at Milan, while still pushing the club to iron out the inconsistency that has marked his start in Serie A.
The former Rossoneri midfielder, who won six league titles and three European Cups across a decade at the club, gave his assessment in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, reported by Football Italia.
Milan sit among four unbeaten sides in Serie A ahead of the ninth round of fixtures, having won five and drawn three of their opening matches under Amorim. Their only defeats have come in the Europa League, including a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Why Donadoni resists the 'new Milan' label
Asked whether Amorim has already reshaped the identity of the team, Donadoni was blunt in rejecting the premise. A coach, he argued, does not need to introduce something entirely new to be judged a success.
His point cuts against a common framing of managerial impact, which tends to prize visible tactical reinvention over incremental progress. Donadoni's view is that Amorim has his own principles and is still in the process of transmitting them to the squad, a process that by nature takes time regardless of early results.
That distinction matters for how Milan's start should be read. A positive record in the league table does not necessarily mean a settled system is in place, and Donadoni's comments suggest he sees Amorim's project as still under construction rather than delivered.
Donadoni was explicit that Milan's results so far meet the club's expectations, and that there is no basis for complaint given the unbeaten domestic run. But he drew a clear line between results and the consistency of performances underpinning them.
He described Amorim's side as having shown fluctuations that need addressing, and said that if Milan can pair steady results with steady performances, the team's development will be complete. The phrasing implies the current form is incomplete progress rather than a finished product.
This is a familiar staging post for teams adjusting to a new coaching framework: results can arrive before the underlying patterns of play become reliable. Donadoni's remarks effectively frame the rest of the season as a test of whether Amorim can close that gap.
Cisse's versatility, Ramos under scrutiny
On Milan's forward options, Donadoni praised record signing Alphadjo Cisse for his range of attributes, saying he does several things well. He was more measured on Goncalo Ramos, acknowledging criticism of the striker's output.
Donadoni said a forward ultimately has to score, but added that he does not hold the lack of goals against Ramos given his work rate for teammates. He suggested patience is warranted while Ramos looks to unlock his finishing form, saying the striker retains the underlying qualities to do so.
Bologna test precedes the derby
Milan host Bologna in Serie A on Wednesday evening, a fixture Donadoni has personal ties to through his decade as a Rossoneri player and three years coaching Bologna. Asked which side the match means more to, he said it carries greater significance for Milan, who go into a derby next and would benefit from entering it on the back of a win.
For Bologna, Donadoni framed the game as a chance to prove they can beat one of the division's bigger sides again, following a home defeat to Inter. He noted it is something that has happened in their recent history and said it remains to be seen whether they can repeat it.
Donadoni also disclosed that Milan had previously approached him about the head coach role, before his spell in China with Shenzhen. He said the interest and his own desire for another spell at the club were genuine, but that his prior commitment in China meant the timing did not work out.