GdS: ‘The 4-4-2 doesn’t work’ – Amorim tweaks again but Milan’s ‘mental fragility’ shows
AC Milan were forced to settle for another draw, their third in six Serie A games, as they failed to hold onto a lead against Sassuolo.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) begin their analysis by stating that mental fragility is the primary culprit for this Milan side, one which rightly views this draw as another two points squandered, with all due respect to Sassuolo.
Milan were not at their best on Sunday, but just when they manage to steer the match the way they wanted – following a sterile first half and a slightly livelier start to the second – their inherent weakness surfaced again.
They failed to manage the game situation after Adrien Rabiot’s goal, allowing Odenthal to turn in a shot from a corner despite the box being packed with defenders. A mere five minutes had elapsed – moments that laid bare the team’s lack of a ‘big club’ mentality.
To Gerry Cardinale, who arrived at Milanello on Saturday wearing a cap emblazoned with the slogan ‘Make Milan Great Again’, the fans might well respond with a question: “Yes, but when?” Not immediately of course, as rebuilding doesn’t happen overnight.
Yet, there was a chance to draw level with Roma and stay within two points of the leading pair Inter and Lazio. Instead, the Rossoneri – while still unbeaten in the league – are making too little headway.
Half-time shift
Milan broke the deadlock when reverting to the system used at the start of the season. Ruben Amorim shifted from a 4-4-2 to a 3-4-2-1 after half-time, though the rule remains that attitude matters more than the formation itself.
In 2026, clinging to a rigid framework is anachronistic. Any formation is fluid: a man-to-man approach drags defenders into the opposing box, while zonal marking allows for different setups depending on whether the team is in or out of possession.
The switch from the Diavolo’s early-season setup to this four-man defence and two-striker attack – a change called for and already glimpsed in the previous match – should not be hailed as a watershed moment. Indeed, Amorim himself had second thoughts about it.
One hardly needs a coaching degree from Coverciano to realize that leaving attacking players isolated on the flanks would have played right into the hands of the opposing wide players, as had happened on several occasions prior to the Lecce game.
The alternative set-up Milan attempted was a carefully considered move aimed at blocking passing lanes and building creative freedom. Yet, if Christian Pulisic drifts too close to the striker, one flank (Samuel Chukwueze’s) ceases to be productive. Without creative playmakers in midfield, the team’s quality cannot improve.
Further dilemmas
Another issue is this: is it true that Goncalo Ramos doesn’t score because he makes so many mistakes in front of goal (like against Venezia, before his first and only goal) or because he isn’t served frequently and with quality?
The doubt remains, but the Portuguese does nothing to erase it. When a perfect cross came to him at the end of the first half, his header was straight at the goalkeeper. Then, too many other remnants of his games were in the shade.
Diego Moreira’s moves managed to liven up the tail end of a flat first half in which health news had the upper hand due to the injuries of the central defenders Matteo Gabbia (who left on a stretcher with a serious problem in his left flexor) and Leysen (sprained left knee).
For a long time, confusion and errors reigned supreme in a contest that was also interrupted by too many referee whistles and fouls to which one was no longer accustomed. Milan lacked the necessary class in the middle to dominate and control the game.
When Luka Modric came on after the break, removing Pervis Estupinan and bringing Moreira and Chukwueze back to full range, it led to the first goal with the Croatian serving Rabiot. Then, Sassuolo improved when Aquilani swapped Bowie for Sebastiano Esposito.
If Berardi was not the usual punisher of Milan, a badly-read corner is enough to restore a balance in a game that did not deliver the spectacle that was hoped for, despite the two goals.
