GdS: Systems, roles and changes – why Milan remain a ‘puzzle’ under Amorim
By: Oliver Fisher
AC Milan are now 10 games into their first season with Ruben Amorim, and there remains quite a few doubts about his selections.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning that the match against RB Salzburg might have led Rúben Amorim to believe that squad rotation was a viable path for his Milan side, but the debacle at Bournemouth has brought all those doubts back to the surface.
Is this squad truly equipped to handle two matches a week? It is a highly relevant question as we head into a weekend that kicks off a stretch of three games in just six days. The first fixture is tomorrow in Udine, and the last is next Saturday – the derby against Inter – with a midweek clash against Bologna at San Siro sandwiched in between.
The Portuguese manager faces this run with a few too many injuries (in addition to long-term absentees Saelemaekers and Gabbia, Chukwueze will also miss this trio of matches), but there is some good news.
As of yesterday, Gonçalo Ramos has returned to group training and is fully recovered for the match against Udinese. The former PSG striker is confident he can reclaim his spot at the center of the attack as early as tomorrow evening, though caution is needed with calf issues.
Given the current situation, however, it is possible that Amorim might push for his return in Udine, opting instead to give young Camarda a chance to shine at San Siro during the midweek fixture.
Tactical insights and substitutions
Beyond concerns regarding the physical condition of various players, Amorim faces other questions, primarily of a tactical nature. In Bournemouth, for instance, Moreira reappeared on the right flank.
It may be a coincidence, but the Belgian failed to make an impact, much like he did during his first Serie A start against Juventus. On the left, however, it was a completely different story: he contributed goals (against Lazio and Lecce) and an assist (against Atalanta).
Yet, with Chukwueze sidelined by injury, the former Sporting CP head coach faces some difficult choices, especially since Hutchinson has not yet fully settled into his role. Amorim might devise something new as he has done previously this season.
Following a first defeat to Benfica, he fielded a revamped Milan side for the subsequent league match against Lecce, employing a back four and handing Pulisic his first start, moving Rabiot back into the midfield.
The need for squad rotation, combined with the requirement to manage Modric’s workload in midfield, prompted Amorim to switch to a 4-3-3 formation for the Europa League clash in Salzburg, a match that saw eight changes to the starting XI compared to the previous fixture against Sassuolo.
On that occasion, the extensive rotation paid off handsomely, with the Rossoneri putting four goals past their opponents in Austria. The 4-3-3 (with slight variations) was also deployed in the league against Atalanta (a 3-2 victory).
Then, the approach faltered in Bournemouth, where the lineup closely resembled the one used in Salzburg with three changes: Estupinan for Bartesaghi, Musah for Rabiot, and Moreira for Camarda.
Further question marks
It is clear that the most enigmatic puzzle concerns the adaptability of certain players to Amorim’s style of football. And, more broadly, to the standards required at Milan.
Can Tomori – reintegrated into the full squad at the end of the transfer window and having returned to action only a little over a week ago – function as a member of a back four? Can Pavlovic and De Winter perform as central defenders in a three-man backline?
Is Jashari merely a backup for Modric? Does Loftus-Cheek, shunted between the attacking midfield and the flanks, actually have a defined role, or is he simply a stopgap, one who brings questions regarding his consistency?
Amorim, for his part, seems to have no doubts about Estupiñán, despite criticism from fans and the media. When even the reliable stalwarts – like Maignan, who saw red against Bournemouth – let the team down, the situation becomes significantly more complex.
