Milan return from the international break with Sassuolo ahead and Ruben Amorim intent on turning the training ground work into momentum for a demanding stretch of the season. The coach has seen a squad eager to reconvene at Milanello, even if the break brought an issue for Alexis Saelemaekers and took a large part of the group away on national-team duty.
Some players featured twice for their countries before being able to rest, while others have had a different rhythm. Koni De Winter, for instance, did not play for Belgium and has therefore been unable to maintain the same intensity in his work during the past three weeks. Amorim believes the time has now come for Milan to accelerate, with a sequence of fixtures that will carry real weight in their campaign.
The coach used the period to work closely with Omari Hutchinson and arranged a friendly against Padova, using the match to test an alternative idea. Ardon Jashari was given extensive minutes, while Moreira was deployed on both the right and left. Amorim feels his players are ready for the visit to Sassuolo, although he accepts that the mood around the group will inevitably be shaped by the result.
Aquilani and the tactical contest
Amorim spoke warmly of Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani, recalling him as a player at Sporting, where both men worked under Jorge Jesus. He described Aquilani as an intelligent midfielder and noted that players in that role often move naturally into coaching. Milanello, in his view, also gives footballers an education in the demands of management.
Aquilani has also drawn from Roberto De Zerbi’s methods and has the flexibility to set up his side in more than one way, including with a medium block. Amorim sees a significant coaching future ahead of his opposite number, but he is not inclined to offer him clues before the match.
“The choice depends on the game and on what develops during it,” Amorim said of switching between a back three and a back four. “What matters is that the players recognise, during the match itself, when to use one structure or the other. They are small details.”
He added that he is looking for fresh solutions capable of troubling opponents who are already well prepared. Amorim said he has ideas to help Milan’s players perform better, but would keep them private rather than hand Aquilani an advantage.
The same collective emphasis applies to Ramos. Amorim does not see his task as designing a side solely to increase the forward’s scoring return, however important the player may be. Milan must create more chances for the entire attacking unit, with the coach working across the squad to raise the team’s level.
Amorim is prepared to take inspiration from what Ramos has done with Portugal, while retaining his own footballing principles. His central objective, though, is straightforward: Milan must win as many matches as possible, rather than build their season around goals from one player alone.
