Ruben Amorim's first season at Milan has hit a difficult stretch, and the pressure is building fast. A 2-0 home defeat to Benfica in the Europa League opener, reported by GOAL, marked the Portuguese coach's first loss since taking charge and raised serious questions about his squad management, his tactical approach, and the team's readiness to compete at the top level.

The defeat exposed several problems at once. A heavily rotated starting lineup failed to function, with Omari Hutchinson and Ardon Jashari both below par in their respective auditions for regular starting roles. Gonçalo Ramos, who has now gone three games without a goal, offered little to change the game. GOAL's post-match analysis noted that Amorim received few of the answers he needed from the players given opportunities to stake their claim.

Off the pitch, reports indicate that a meeting between Amorim and club owner Gerry Cardinale is expected, reflecting the seriousness with which the club is treating this difficult start. Antonio Conte was spotted in the stands at San Siro during the Benfica defeat, a detail that has only intensified speculation around the dugout.

Milan sit sixth in Serie A with eight points from four games, and Sunday's home match against Lecce now feels like a pivotal moment. GOAL reports that Christian Pulisic is set to start from the beginning for the first time in five months, with Amorim turning to his most reliable attacking option to arrest the slide.