AC Milan will face a “hellish” run of matches starting tomorrow and lasting until the November international break, a period that will shape the Rossoneri’s ambitions in Serie A (where they are unbeaten after the first five rounds) and in the Europa League. The European competition is anything but a sideshow for the Rossoneri. Or at least that is the impression coming out of Milanello and Casa Milan whenever the subject of European competition comes up.
A crucial period awaits Milan and Amorim...
Ruben Amorim, therefore, approaches his first real mid-season test knowing that he must maintain consistency in both results and performances with his Milan side, because, regardless of talk and personal convictions, it is always the results on the pitch that tell the truth.
The pressure has begun to mount again in recent hours, and the match against Sassuolo already represents a significant first hurdle for the Portuguese coach, who spent the international break analysing the matches played up to and including the victory over Lecce, seeking to understand how and where improvements can be made, as relayed via Tuttosport in this morning's print edition.
Finding the right balance, even within an attacking philosophy such as his, will be the cornerstone and probably the determining factor in whether Milan can play a leading role.
One thing is certain: as Amorim acknowledged in a recent public statement, he has learned his lesson from Manchester. When he was manager of United, he refused to compromise his ideas and principles in situations where a less rigid approach would have been necessary to find a solution.
Now, at Milan, he does not want to make the same mistake, and already against Lecce he demonstrated his ability to adapt his approach and playing principles to give the team a different direction.
His relationship with the key figures in the dressing room will also be crucial. From Modrić and Maignan to Rabiot, Pulisic, Gila, Gabbia and Pavlović, it will be essential for Amorim to have these players on his side and to adapt his approach to their individual characteristics. The aim is to make them feel important and, as a result, encourage them to deliver strong collective performances that can also inspire the other groups within the dressing room to reach a high level.
Furthermore, with a match every three days, contributions from everyone will be needed. This is where Amorim will have to show good judgment in choosing the right moments to give confidence to players who currently find themselves on the fringes of his plans, such as Comotto and Camarda. Both are homegrown AC Milan gems who need to be given opportunities to develop following their significant contract renewals over the summer.
Looking ahead to the match against Sassuolo, there is curiosity surrounding the tactical experiments Amorim will conduct today, particularly because he mixed things up in yesterday’s training session.
Pervis Estupiñán has been given the green light to return to training with the group and will be available for selection, competing with Davide Bartesaghi for a place in the team.
The impression gathered over the course of the week is that Milan could once again adopt the tactical setup seen against Lecce: either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-1-1, with Diego Moreira starting on the left, given that Saelemaekers is sidelined and will undergo ankle surgery next week.
