Milan’s early-season pattern has become difficult to ignore: the side has repeatedly needed the bench, the interval or the hour mark before finding its real level. Ruben Amorim’s rotation policy is intended to carry the club through a demanding campaign, but it has also left Milan without a settled starting identity across their opening five matches.
Milan’s first-half problem ahead of Lecce
Through four Serie A fixtures and one Europa League match, Milan have not scored before half-time. That statistic has placed fresh attention on Amorim’s team selections, particularly after the Benfica match, when substitutions improved the performance but did not produce the goal Milan required.
The coach has made clear that he does not want to build a season around a narrow group. Speaking on Tuesday, Amorim explained that experimentation with players such as Hutchinson and Terracciano was part of a wider plan.
“You cannot go through a season using only 11 or 14 players,” he said. “If we want to reach a final, we have to manage the rotations properly.”
That principle is understandable over a long season, yet Milan’s opening weeks have raised another question: whether the search for minutes across the squad is preventing the strongest team from gaining rhythm and confidence.
A recurring match-day sequence
- Against Torino on the opening Serie A weekend, Modric and Rabiot began among the substitutes. Both entered in the 56th minute, and Milan took the lead 11 minutes later before going on to win.
- In the following match against Venezia, Rabiot was again left out of the initial XI. With the game still goalless, he came on and Milan scored twice in the final 20 minutes.
- At Juventus in the third league round, Amorim changed three players after an hour. Loftus-Cheek, Cisse and Chukwueze replaced Saelemaekers, Rabiot and Diego Moreira, and Milan then found the goal that put them ahead.
- At Lazio, Milan were second best before the break. Amorim responded at half-time by introducing Musah, Diego Moreira and Pulisic. The tempo rose sharply, Milan equalised and came close to winning the match.
- Against Benfica in the Europa League, the replacements again gave Milan greater control, but this time the improved display was not followed by a goal.
Rotation without a settled core
Hutchinson and Terracciano were both selected from the start and taken off at half-time, illustrating the risks in Amorim’s effort to distribute opportunities over the next month. Milan may need a broader squad later in the season, but frequent changes can also delay the formation of a recognisable first-choice side.
The likely core is already visible: Milan’s three-man defence, Modric, Musah, Rabiot, Pulisic and perhaps Chukwueze. Yet that group has not been put on the pitch together consistently.
Sunday evening’s home meeting with Lecce therefore carries a wider significance than one league fixture. It is an opportunity for Amorim to show whether he is ready to prioritise continuity, while still protecting players from an overloaded schedule.
Likely considerations for Lecce
Gila is expected to return in defence, alongside Pavlovic and either De Winter or Gabbia. Modric should feature in midfield, with the choice of his partner still open, including the possibility of Musah retaining his place.
Diego Moreira is likely to operate on one flank, while Chukwueze could be used on the other. Further forward, Pulisic and Rabiot may support Gonçalo Ramos.
Ramos has been used almost without pause so far, despite not being accustomed to such an uninterrupted workload. At some stage Milan will need to give him a rest rather than continually extending his minutes. For now, though, the more immediate challenge is simpler: choose a starting XI capable of beginning the match at the level Milan have too often only reached after the changes.
SEO title: Milan seek a faster start as Amorim weighs rotations for Lecce
SEO description: Milan have yet to score in the first half across five matches, placing Ruben Amorim’s selection choices under scrutiny before Sunday’s Serie A match against Lecce.
