Two goals and an assist for Portugal in a single international break, one Serie A goal for AC Milan all season. Amorim says the gap does not worry him.
The Milan manager addressed his striker’s slow start at club level on 8 October after Ramos returned from Portugal duty, defending him publicly rather than demanding more.
“I’m not going to say Ramos should run less, I’d never say that about a player,” Amorim told reporters. “First of all, the key thing is that we’re scoring, and that’s what matters most. Then I know a striker needs to score, and he will.”
A Portugal surge without Ronaldo
Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen on 1 October and followed it with a 2-1 home win over Norway in Porto on 4 October, results that sealed their place in the Nations League quarter-finals. Ramos scored in both and set up another goal, taking him to 101 goals in senior football across spells at Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Milan and the national team.
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His winner in Porto was a back-post finish from a Joao Felix cutback.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not take part in either match. The 41-year-old walked out of Portugal’s training camp after a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his place in the starting line-up against Denmark, and said in a public statement he would explain his reasons “in due time”.
Milan slow start
Ramos arrived at Milan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and has one Serie A goal and two assists this season, the assists coming in a recent league win over Lecce. Amorim, appointed by Milan in June after leaving Manchester United, was unequivocal.
“If you look at the national team, I think he has fewer opportunities to score. Football is like that sometimes, but he’s working hard, and if we’re scoring, it’s also thanks to him. He just needs to keep helping the team and doing what he’s doing: the goals will definitely come.”
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