Milan's season continues to be defined by sharp contrasts, but the 2-1 victory at Genoa on Sunday offered a timely reminder of what Ruben Amorim's side can produce when they get things right. Goals from Christian Pulisic and Alphadjo Cisse inside the opening 20 minutes settled the game, and the win moved Milan to fourth in Serie A with 24 points from 11 matches, cutting the gap to the top to five points. Statistically, it represents the club's best start to a season in four years.

The result carried extra weight given what had come three days earlier. A 2-0 home defeat to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, where Milan were barely competitive, had raised serious questions about the squad's depth and mental consistency. Amorim did not spare his players in the aftermath, saying the team "were not ready to play football." The response at Genoa was encouraging, though the nerves in the closing stages, after Ellertsson pulled one back, showed the fragility has not entirely disappeared.

Squad concerns remain real. Amorim is managing a significant injury list that includes Pavlovic, Chukwueze, Tomori, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek and Terracciano. The absences have forced young players like Diawara into prominent roles, and the teenager has responded well. Cisse, meanwhile, is building a compelling case for a regular starting place with another decisive contribution. Milan host Frosinone on 22 November, and maintaining this domestic momentum will be the priority.