Milan return to Serie A at Sassuolo on Saturday at 18:00 with Ruben Amorim facing a selection problem that has quickly become an opportunity. Alexis Saelemaekers’ serious injury appears set to open the door for Diego Moreira to start alongside Christian Pulisic, giving the Rossoneri two players who have so far shared only 78 minutes on the pitch.
A new attacking balance in Reggio Emilia
Moreira and Pulisic have already offered brief evidence of what they can provide together. They featured for a half in the comeback against Lazio at the Olimpico, where the Belgian scored twice and the American supplied an assist. They then had 33 minutes together against Benfica at San Siro, although Milan could not rescue that match.
Amorim now looks ready to use them from the opening whistle at Sassuolo. If the four-man defence seen against Lecce is retained, Moreira is expected to play high on the left in a 4-2-3-1 rather than in the right wing-back role he occupied against Juventus on 6 September, his only previous start under the Portuguese coach.
- Moreira began the season largely as an impact substitute, scoring in three consecutive Serie A appearances from the bench.
- His third Italian goal arrived after he entered on the left against Lecce, the position he may now occupy at Sassuolo.
- He maintained encouraging form with Belgium during the international break and returned to Milanello ready to compete for a larger role.
- Saelemaekers’ injury has altered Amorim’s options and could force a faster move towards starting Moreira in the attack.
Moreira’s patience rewarded
After the Lecce match, Moreira made clear that he accepted Amorim’s decisions while remaining prepared for a starting chance.
“I do not decide why I have not started,” he said. “Sometimes you are on the bench, then you come on and score. I am ready for every game, but the coach has to make the decision. For now, I keep working and I am ready whenever needed.”
Amorim had previously suggested that beginning with Moreira and Samuel Chukwueze together could threaten the team’s balance, while also valuing the Belgian as a player capable of changing a match from the bench. Saelemaekers’ absence has shifted that calculation.
Pulisic rebuilding his rhythm
Pulisic has also had to work his way into Amorim’s Milan. The American missed the entire pre-season after sustaining an injury in the World Cup quarter-final against Moreira’s Belgium, then watched the opening league rounds as he recovered.
When Milan needed a response against Lazio, Pulisic made an immediate contribution. Against Lecce, he recovered both his place in the starting side and a goal that had eluded him in Rossoneri colours for 266 days.
In agreement with Milan and the United States federation, Pulisic did not join his national team during the latest break. The decision was taken to focus on completing his physical recovery ahead of the league restart.
The likely picture in Reggio Emilia is an ambitious one: Chukwueze on the right, Pulisic in the central attacking role and Moreira on the left behind Gonçalo Ramos. Milan will also hope that the support around Ramos helps the Portuguese striker transfer his international momentum to club football after three successive goals for Portugal.
