AC Milan suffered a 4-2 home defeat to Bologna at San Siro on Wednesday, conceding three second-half goals after leading 2-1 at the break, leaving manager Ruben Amorim under intense pressure ahead of Saturday's Derby della Madonnina against Inter.
Second-half collapse
Bologna took an early lead through Samuel Mbangula before Alphadjo Cisse scored twice to put Milan ahead 2-1 at half-time. The match turned after the restart when Davide Bartesaghi's own goal leveled the score. Mbangula then completed a hat-trick with two more goals to seal a 4-2 victory for Raffaele Palladino's side.
Amorim cites fatigue and squad depth
Amorim acknowledged his team lacked energy in the second half, attributing it to a congested schedule and a growing injury list. "So many games, so many players out, a bit of fatigue set in. We even had a chance to equalise with Camarda, but we didn't manage it," he said after the match. The Portuguese coach added that a team cannot be expected to play a different style for 90 minutes after only two months under his leadership, and that limited rotation makes consistent pressing difficult.
Derby showdown looms
Milan now sit seven points behind Serie A leaders Inter and Lazio. The upcoming derby against Inter at San Siro on Saturday is seen as a crucial test for Amorim, who must convince owner Gerry Cardinale that his summer appointment was the right decision. A negative result could trigger further changes at the club.
