Alvaro Morata, the new signing for AC Milan, has expressed his disappointment with the team's draw against Torino, despite the dramatic comeback from two goals down. Morata believes that Milan "practically" threw away a win and would have triumphed if given just five more minutes.
Milan suffered an early setback, finding themselves two goals behind at home on the opening day of the 2024-25 Serie A season. Torino's lead was secured through an unfortunate own goal by Malick Thiaw and a header from Duvan Zapata.
However, a double substitution in the closing stages proved to be a game-changer. Morata scored his debut goal by redirecting a shot from Tijjani Reijnders in the 88th minute, before Noah Okafor volleyed in a cross from Yunus Musah deep into stoppage time.
Despite the heroic fightback, Morata, a Euro 2024 winner, was not celebrating his dream debut. He emphasised that the team was not satisfied with a draw and needed to work on their mentality.
"It is not a great debut, because we didnât win and wanted to send a message," Morata told Sky Sport Italia. "I think we still sent a message, because the team was practically dead and we still turned it around. If there had been another five minutes to play, we wouldâve won it. However, weâve got to get back to work at Milanello and change our mentality, because we need to win here."
Morata was particularly impressed by the strength of Torino, who put up a determined challenge for Paulo Fonseca's Milan. He acknowledged the difficulty of every match in Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia, stating that the team needs to "get going."
He also reiterated his commitment to the Milan faithful, having arrived from Atletico Madrid this summer. "San Siro is wonderful. I realised today what it means to play here for Milan. I cannot promise goals or titles, but I can promise Iâll work harder than anyone else," he declared.
While Morata's debut goal might not have been accompanied by a win, it showcased the fighting spirit of the new Milan side. The draw has served as a wake-up call for the team, highlighting the need for improved consistency and mental fortitude if they are to achieve their ambitions this season.
