Ruben Amorim’s Milan are making a habit of changing before they settle. The Lecce match will bring a sixth different starting XI in as many official fixtures, extending a rotation policy that has shaped the opening weeks of the Rossoneri’s Serie A and Europa League campaign.
Amorim has made no secret of the reasoning. With three matches often arriving in a week, he believes freshness must outweigh continuity, and selection will continue to depend on the opponent and the demands of the schedule.
Quick facts
- Milan have used a different starting XI for each of their first six official matches, including the upcoming Lecce fixture.
- Only Mike Maignan, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlović and Gonçalo Ramos have started every game so far.
- There have been 14 starting-line-up changes across the first five completed matches, an average of 3.5 between games.
- All seven of Milan’s Serie A goals have arrived after the 60th minute.
- Substitutes have played a major role in four of the five matches already contested.
The pattern began after the away win at Torino. For Venezia’s visit, Amorim made two alterations, bringing Luka Modrić in for Ardon Jashari and Davide Bartesaghi in for Pervis Estupiñán.
He went further for the Juventus match, despite Milan arriving with a perfect league record. Samuel Chukwueze made way for Moreira, who was handed his debut; Estupiñán returned for Bartesaghi; Adrien Rabiot replaced Ruben Loftus-Cheek and played higher up the pitch; while Alexis Saelemaekers came in for Cissé.
Milan spent much of that evening under pressure and were forced into a defensive contest, yet still took the lead. Federico Gatti’s stoppage-time equaliser denied them the win at the Stadium.
For the fourth Serie A outing, away to Lazio, Amorim changed three again. Moreira, Yunus Musah and Saelemaekers dropped out, with Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek and Cissé restored; Rabiot moved back from the advanced role into central midfield.
The first Europa League match, against Benfica last Wednesday, brought the largest reshuffle. Filippo Terracciano replaced Gila, Musah came in for Modrić, Jashari for Rabiot, Bartesaghi for Estupiñán and Omari Hutchinson for Loftus-Cheek.
That degree of movement may continue against Lecce. The likely changes include Gila for Terracciano, Modrić for Musah, Christian Pulisic for Hutchinson, Estupiñán for Bartesaghi, Rabiot for Jashari and Saelemaekers for Cissé. If Moreira is selected ahead of Chukwueze, the total could rise to seven.
The second-half Milan
Rotation has not only been visible on the teamsheet. Amorim’s replacements have repeatedly changed the course of matches, giving Milan a stronger finish than their starting performances have often suggested.
At Torino, Modrić and Rabiot came on to wear down the home side. Rabiot contributed a goal and an assist in the win over Ignazio Abate’s team.
Against Venezia, Saelemaekers supplied an assist after entering the game, while Jashari’s involvement led to an own goal. At Juventus, Cissé scored Milan’s temporary opener from a Chukwueze delivery, with both players having started on the bench.
The response at Lazio was even more striking. Milan trailed 2-0 at half-time before Musah, Moreira and Pulisic were introduced, and Moreira scored twice to secure the draw.
Benfica remained the exception in terms of the final result. Pulisic, Saelemaekers and Rabiot improved Milan after the break, but their arrivals could not prevent defeat.
Seven league goals scored after the hour mark point to a side that has repeatedly found more energy and influence from the bench. It is a productive trait for Amorim, though it also leaves a question hanging over the opening selections: whether Milan’s strongest version is too often appearing only once the match is already underway.
