AC Milan manager Ruben Amorim has criticised his squad after their 2-0 Europa League defeat to Ferencvaros, while praising one defender for his commitment. According to GOAL on Friday, November 6, 2026, the Portuguese coach was dissatisfied after Thursday’s match at the San Siro.

The defeat was Milan’s third in four Europa League fixtures. Hungarian forward Lenny Joseph scored twice after the break, giving Ferencvaros an impressive away victory and leaving the Italian side with further questions about their European campaign.

He said his players lacked concentration, ambition and determination. He questioned their readiness to manage multiple competitions and insisted their approach needed to change.

“We are not ready to compete on two fronts,” Amorim said.

He said there was little he could offer in defence of the performance and urged the squad to reflect honestly. He called for humility and said he needed to address what he described as a provincial mentality.

Despite his criticism, Amorim singled out Strahinja Pavlovic as an example. The Serbian centre-back, who has played almost every minute this season, was rested against Ferencvaros. His absence did not stop the manager praising his professionalism.

“Everyone must train like Pavlovic. He is ready to die in training. He is a good example,” the former Manchester United manager said.

Amorim’s comments suggested that Pavlovic’s work ethic and willingness to give everything during training sessions represented the level of dedication he wanted throughout the dressing room. He expects the rest of the squad to show similar dedication as Milan seek to recover from their European struggles.

The manager was especially troubled by what he saw before half-time. Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, he admitted he could not identify an explanation for the team’s weak opening display.

“There is no explanation. There is nothing I can say, especially about the first half,” he said.

He also accepted some responsibility for the result, acknowledging that his preparation might have contributed to the problems. However, Amorim argued that the shortcomings were not entirely new, pointing out that he had noticed comparable weaknesses during the previous season.

“Perhaps I did something wrong over the last two days, but I saw the team had similar problems last season,” he explained.

Milan must now turn their attention to domestic action, with a trip to Genoa scheduled for Sunday, November 8. The Rossoneri will be seeking a response after the European setback and a return to winning form in Serie A.

They sit fifth in Serie A, seven points behind leaders Lazio. Amorim’s immediate challenge is to restore discipline, focus and belief within his squad ahead of Sunday's league assignment.

The coach will want a more committed performance against Genoa, but the longer-term task is to ensure the attitude that disappointed him against Ferencvaros does not become a recurring problem. His public praise of Pavlovic provides a clear indication of the standards he expects from every player.