Amorim Reflects on Maignan Dismissal and Milan’s ‘Negative Performance’ After Bournemouth Thrashing

FolioPitch.com – 23 October 2026 | In the aftermath of AC Milan‘s 3-0 Europa League defeat to Bournemouth, manager Ruben Amorim faced the media to dissect a night that he described as ‘truly a negative performance’ from every angle. As Amorim discusses Maignan dismissal poor choices and the journey Truly a negative performance, the Portuguese coach offered a candid assessment of the penalty incident that saw goalkeeper Mike Maignan sent off, the tactical decisions that followed, and the broader context of his first 100 days at the club.

The match, which had been anticipated as a crucial test for Milan, unraveled quickly after Maignan’s red card. Amorim was quick to point to the penalty as the turning point. ‘The penalty changed the game. We didn’t have a chance to recover from those two penalties. Their player was in Maignan’s position when he was sent off, and that’s how it went, and then the third goal came from another set piece,’ he explained. When pressed on whether he would have made the same choices again, Amorim was unequivocal: ‘It wasn’t a match, it wasn’t a match. And it’s not even a question of comparing the pace of this match to that of Salzburg. We all saw the same game: it’s true that we were facing a different team, but it’s clear that we can’t afford to concede a penalty from that corner and then end up ten men short.’

The dismissal of Maignan, a player of vast experience, drew particular scrutiny. Amorim acknowledged the gravity of the mistake: ‘It’s true. We need to stay with eleven against eleven on the pitch, especially the more experienced players. But today, I repeat, there was no match. Now we have other games ahead: we need to recharge and immediately think about the next one.’ He continued, ‘It’s true, we had to work hard and run a lot with a man down, trying to press, and it was truly a negative performance from every point of view and in every aspect. But now let’s move on and focus on the championship.’

As Amorim discusses Maignan dismissal poor choices and the journey Truly a negative performance, the conversation also turned to his tactical approach after the sending-off. The coach opted to maintain a 5-3-1 formation, a decision he justified by citing player familiarity: ‘First of all, because the guys are more familiar with this type of defensive structure, so I wanted to leave them more comfortable and then try to push harder in the final minutes, taking as few risks as possible in the middle of the game. When I was down to ten men, that’s how it went: I tried to put my players in the positions where they felt most comfortable, then tweaked things on the fly with substitutions.’

Amorim also revealed that he had not yet spoken to Maignan about the incident, stating, ‘I haven’t had time to talk to him yet. Now we have to get back to Milan as soon as possible to prepare for the match against Udinese, and we’ll talk about it when we get home.’ The lack of communication highlights the immediate focus on recovery and preparation for the next fixture.

When asked to take stock of his first 100 days at Milan, Amorim remained philosophical. ‘This is part of the journey. If we look at AC Milan’s history, it’s clear that we’re in a different position. Fabio Capello is in the studio, and he can talk about AC Milan’s history and the negativity of a match like that: and I agree, you can’t disagree with him. But I still appreciated the way we fought, the fact that we tried, that we defended and helped each other. We have to treasure, so to speak, moments like these, realize that football is also this and that bad nights happen. Now we just have to think about the next one, trying to win it to immediately change the momentum of this moment.’

The defeat leaves Milan in a precarious position, with injuries already hampering the squad and the upcoming Derby della Madonnina against Inter looming large. As Amorim discusses Maignan dismissal poor choices and the journey Truly a negative performance, it is clear that the coach is under no illusions about the challenges ahead. The team must quickly regroup and find a way to shift the momentum before the season slips further away.

In conclusion, Amorim’s reflections paint a picture of a manager grappling with a difficult night, but one who remains focused on the long-term journey. The loss to Bournemouth serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in football, and Milan must now rally to ensure that this negative performance does not define their season.