Amorim says Milan derby carries a Portuguese edge ahead of Inter showdown

Ruben Amorim says the Milan derby’s intense football culture feels closer to Portugal than to his previous experience in England with Manchester United, as Milan prepare to face Inter in Saturday’s Derby della Madonnina on 31 October 2026.

Inter are top of the Serie A table with 25 points, level on goal difference with second-placed Lazio, while Milan sit fifth on 18 points.

Amorim also thanked Milan owner Gerry Cardinale for his support, while acknowledging that building a strong team would take time.

“I really appreciate Cardinale’s support,” he said, as reported by Football Italia. “We already knew that we could not build strong foundations with these kinds of problems throughout the season. It will take time, but at the same time we want to win every match. When we do not win, we feel the pain deeply.

“We need time to build the team and we know that good things require time before they become stable. That does not remove the pain of defeat, which is still there.”

‘A unique rivalry’

Amorim believes the derby is different from other major fixtures because Milan and Inter share the same city and stadium.

“I think it is an exceptional match because it is played in the same city,” he said. “Yesterday, we saw the plans for the new stadium. It is a unique rivalry, but it also has a deep connection: two great teams in the same city sharing one stadium.

“I do not think you can find a context like this anywhere else. It is genuinely special.”

The Portuguese manager added that the passion surrounding the fixture reminded him of football in his home country.

“If we look at Portuguese culture, the feeling is exactly the same,” he said. “There is the same responsibility to win, and the enthusiasm of the supporters is very similar. The football culture here is much closer to Portugal.

“In England, it is slightly different. There is a great rivalry, but the spirit is more sporting. Here, you feel that Latin element that we also experience in Portugal, so I truly believe it will be a special match.”

Amorim told his players they would need to perform regardless of fatigue or the circumstances surrounding the game.

“Everyone knows it is a special match and a special moment,” he said. “When you play it, the context does not matter, nor does it matter whether you feel tired. You have to go out on to the pitch and give everything you have. We will be there.”

Although Cardinale has said Milan can win the Serie A title this season, Amorim insisted the team must focus on gradual improvement.

“The Scudetto must always be discussed as the main objective when you are at Milan, but we have dropped too many points and must put things right,” he said. “We have to focus only on improving the team step by step.”

He added: “What we got wrong in the last match must be corrected in the next one. If we start thinking too far ahead about the table and long-term goals, we forget what really matters.

“We want to win consistently, year after year. We do not want to win one season simply because we were lucky or took shortcuts in building the project, only to return to the starting point the following year. That is why we must deal with things day by day.”

Asked jokingly what he envied about Inter manager Cristian Chivu, Amorim replied: “I do not envy Chivu at all because I am already in the right place, and that is Milan rather than Inter. That is my nature and my personality.”

Amorim said Chivu was “very nice” when they met at the presentation of the clubs’ new stadium.

“We complained a little about the timing of the presentation because we had played the night before,” he said. “He had won, so he was happier than me, but we had a match to prepare for and that was our priority.”