CM: Unlocking the €70m man – Amorim faces crucial mission to help Milan’s struggling attack

One of the battles that Ruben Amorim is facing is how to get the best out of AC Milan’s club-record signing Goncalo Ramos.

As Calciomercato.com recall, Ramos was the big splash of Milan’s summer window and was instantly tasked with being the long-term fix to the No.9 curse. His compatriot Amorim wanted him, he wanted a leading role after being a back-up at PSG, and so the pieces seemed to fit.

However, there have been some issues recently. The game against Benfica saw Ramos finish his third consecutive match without a shot on target, after doing so against Lazio and prior to that against Juventus. Also surprising was the fact that he lost possession 14 times and was engaged in 16 duels.

Over his five starts so far, the Portuguese has racked up 14 shots (all in the first two matches against Torino and Venezia), 1.55 xG, only one goal scored and 158 touches (of which only 20 in the opponent’s penalty area).

Amorim’s fix

Ramos heat map also shows how the player spends most of his matches outside the penalty area, trying to stitch together the play with the attacking midfielder and midfielders. He runs a lot and presses from the front, but at times looks exhausted.

The work rate shown by Ramos on the pitch means he no longer has the same clarity in the moments that count, i.e. just before potential big chances. It’s clear and evident that this isn’t a problem with one individual: the work done when not in possession is valuable and crucial, but must be supported by the rest of the team.

The immediate pressing required by Amorim must be fluid, harmonious, and organised. The entire team must support the centre-forward in the initial phase to immediately regain possession of the ball in the opponent’s half.

Ramos is a striker who, in terms of his characteristics, has all the makings of a complete and reliable player. He is intelligent, can move well between the lines, attacks the space in behind, and has an excellent eye for goal. The Venezia goal showed this.

To prevent him from remaining isolated, the whole of the team must grow together and around him, using him as a point of reference. But how can this happen?

Some of the key tenets of Amorim’s football are yet to be seen. The pace of play isn’t there, and with static and stale possession it is hard for the spaces to be unlocked where Ramos thrives. So, some more chemistry and courage is needed in general play.

The insertion of Luka Modric in midfield could provide more creativity to the midfield, freeing up the technical qualities of Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic in the attacking midfield, two players skilled in tight spaces who can find Ramos movements in attack.

The Portuguese himself is also called upon to take that extra step that a club like Milan requires: the investment of over €70m made in the summer means that a lot of the fate of the season rests on his shoulders.