Ruben Amorim: Milan boss rejects ‘minimum targets’ ahead of Benfica clash

Ruben Amorim says Milan must regard anything other than victory as failure as they prepare to begin their 2026-27 Europa League campaign against Benfica.

The Portuguese manager said a club with Milan’s history and stature could not set modest objectives, with the Rossoneri facing Benfica in their opening match of the competition.

“It is a great opportunity and our first match, as well as a historic meeting with Benfica in a major European competition,” Amorim told a news conference reported by Football Italia.

“Rui Costa will be there, and he is one of Milan’s legends. I also previously played for Benfica, but the most important thing is that this is our first match in the tournament.”

Milan have been identified by some as among the leading contenders to win the Europa League this season. However, Amorim said it was too early to determine whether they were the favourites.

“We are in the competition and we want to win it,” he said. “It is difficult to look at the tournament and say whether we are the main favourites or not. There are many big teams and several of them have a chance of reaching the final.”

He added that Milan would need a strong squad to compete for the trophy while also maintaining their domestic commitments.

“What I know is that to reach the final and compete in the league, we need a strong squad,” Amorim said. “With a strong squad, there will be constant rotation, so everyone must be ready.

“If we avoid injuries and all the players remain fully focused until the end of the season, we can win every match. That is why I say our clear objective is to try to win this competition.”

Asked by Portuguese journalists whether he had been close to returning to manage Benfica before joining Milan, Amorim said he had intended to take a year away from football to concentrate on his family.

“I was not going to return to coaching in Portugal,” he said. “My decision was to stop and dedicate myself to my family for a year. It was a promise I had made to myself four years ago.

“It was very clear to me until I received a call from Milan. I spoke to the owners and they persuaded me to return sooner than I expected.

“I would not have returned to work in Portugal. The Milan offer arrived, and I do not think any other offer would have brought me back because I was determined to take the break and needed it. But Milan’s approach settled my decision.”

Amorim said reaching the quarter-finals or semi-finals would not be enough for Milan, insisting their sole target had to be winning the trophy.

“For big clubs, and Milan are a big club, there are no minimum targets,” he said. “If you do not win, whatever the result, you will be assessed and criticised, with people saying it is not enough.

“If we do not win the trophy, everyone will consider us insufficient. The Europa League cannot be compared financially with the Champions League, but this is about our pride and identity.”