Mario Gila says Milan must accept that they are currently a Europa League team, while insisting their ambition is to qualify for the Champions League and challenge for the Scudetto under Ruben Amorim.
The defender believes Amorim’s approach can deliver success, although he stressed that Milan’s project is still in its early stages.
Speaking at the Festival dello Sport in Trento via MilanNews.it, Gila praised the intensity and modern principles brought by the coach.
“Amorim is a coach who transmits grit, he’s aggressive in the press. He’s a modern coach, suited to European football,” Gila said. “We’re at the beginning of the project, time is needed but the results will come.”
Gila explained that Amorim expects players to contribute in all areas of the game, with particular demands placed on defenders when building attacks.
“He’s a coach who asks you for complete things, in general. You’re not so tactical, maybe you’re a bit more impetuous, but he likes coming out with the ball from the back. In today’s football you have to be strong in both phases,” he said.
“He’s a tough coach, but he has the calm of knowing we’re at the start of a project. He has absolutely the right intentions and ideas. We’re happy to have him in the team.”
Milan targeting Champions League return
Milan finished outside the Champions League places last season despite remaining in contention throughout the campaign. Gila said that outcome meant the club had to be realistic about its current position.
“For me the current level is where we are, in the Europa League. Last year we didn’t manage to get into the Champions League even though we were there all year. For one factor or another you didn’t get in, and in the end the level is the Europa League,” he said.
Milan’s objective is now to return to Europe’s premier club competition while competing for the Italian title.
“Now we have to work. The main objective is getting into the Champions League and competing for the Scudetto. We’re Milan and we have to think with ambition,” Gila added.
“Last year we had a beautiful season but we didn’t reach the Champions League, so we’re a Europa League team, but with Champions League and Scudetto ambitions.”
Milan’s opening Serie A campaign under Amorim has produced three wins and two draws from five matches, although the team’s performances have been steady rather than convincing. The coach’s selection decisions have also come under scrutiny.
Gila, who joined Milan from Lazio in the summer, has been one of the regular figures in Amorim’s back three as the club begins its new project.
