Amorim has nothing to say about United, and his first game back in England is at a Bournemouth side with six points from six in Europe
Milan visit the Vitality Stadium in the Europa League on Thursday night, nine months after Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim. Marco Rose’s side have won both of their first European games.
Oct 22, 2026
Ruben Amorim was asked about Manchester United on Wednesday at the Vitality Stadium and gave the room very little. “I have nothing to say about United,” the Milan coach said. “I can say that I loved the club and the atmosphere: what happened doesn’t change that.”
Thursday’s Europa League tie at Bournemouth is his first competitive game in England since United sacked him in January, 14 months into the job and a day after a 1-1 draw with Leeds. Milan appointed him in June to replace Massimiliano Allegri. Kick-off on the south coast is 8pm local time, which is 12:30am on Friday in India.
Bournemouth are perfect in Europe
Bournemouth had never played a European game until this season. They have now won two. Marco Rose’s side won 2-1 at Real Sociedad on the opening night and then beat Sturm Graz 3-0 last Thursday in their first home European match, with Evanilson heading the opener before half-time and substitute Rayan and Álvaro Rodríguez, from the penalty spot, adding the rest.
The league has been harder. Rose replaced Andoni Iraola in the summer when Iraola left for Liverpool, and Bournemouth went six Premier League games without a win before beating Sunderland 2-0 on Sunday. Evanilson scored his 100th career goal in that one.
Alex Scott, who hurt his thigh on England duty, Julián Araujo and Eli Junior Kroupi are all injured. Kroupi had foot surgery and was replaced on the European squad list by Ben Gannon-Doak, who could start.
Cisse turns 20 after a hat-trick
Milan’s European campaign started badly, with a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica, and then turned in Salzburg a week ago. Alphadjo Cisse scored three times in a 4-0 win and, at 19 years and 358 days, became the youngest Italian to score a hat-trick in a major European club competition. He turns 20 on Thursday and is expected to lead the line again, because Gonçalo Ramos, who scored the fourth in Salzburg, has a calf injury.
Amorim said Cisse had reached only “50 per cent of his potential”. He is also without Alexis Saelemaekers and Matteo Gabbia, Samuel Chukwueze is a doubt, and Filippo Terracciano is suspended after his red card in Austria. Milan have been rotating heavily between Serie A and Europe, but the league form has held up. They are unbeaten in seven Serie A games under Amorim, the latest a 3-2 win over Atalanta on Sunday in which they let a three-goal lead slip to one.
This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. Milan’s last trip to this stretch of coast was in November 2008, at Portsmouth. On points it is Bournemouth six, Milan three. Milan have won seven European Cups. Bournemouth played their first European game in September.