Milan's 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico captured the contradictions at the heart of Amorim's project: a first half that was disorganised and outclassed, followed by a second half that showed exactly what this squad can produce. Trailing 2-0 at the break, Amorim made three substitutions at half-time, and the impact was immediate. Diego Moreira scored twice, Christian Pulisic made his long-awaited seasonal debut, and Milan rescued a point that felt, in the end, like a statement of intent.

The result leaves Milan fourth in Serie A with eight points from four games, one behind the top three. The comeback provides a boost, but the first half exposed problems that cannot be ignored. Luka Modric, 41, lost 13 balls before Amorim withdrew him at the interval. His limitations in a high-intensity system built around pressing and vertical movement are becoming harder to manage, and the Croatian's role in the squad remains an open question.

Pulisic's return is the clearest piece of good news. The American had missed all three opening league games, and his influence after coming on against Lazio was immediate. His fitness and availability in the weeks ahead will shape how much attacking threat Milan can consistently generate.

Attention now turns to Wednesday's Europa League opener at San Siro against Benfica. Amorim has already signalled his ambition in the competition, and how he balances squad rotation between European and domestic commitments will be one of the defining challenges of the season.