Amorim: Milan Freedom Allowed, Avoiding Manchester United Mistakes

Ruben Amorim observed that he provided Milan with "more freedom" in their 3-0 triumph against Lecce. He cited a desire to avoid repeating the tactical rigidities he experienced at Manchester United.

Following two Serie A draws with Juventus and Lazio, and a significant 2-0 Europa League loss to Benfica at home, the coach made adjustments. These included building play from the back with a four-man defense instead of three, and positioning Mario Gila slightly wider.

A key change was Christian Pulisic’s first start, who quickly opened the scoring with his initial goal for the club in 2026. Adrien Rabiot and Diego Moreira added to the tally in the second half, securing a decisive 3-0 win over Lecce.

Amorim's Milan Learned from Manchester United Errors

“I believe we improved significantly,” Amorim stated to DAZN Italia. “The freedom for the players, their movement, particularly the runs into space, mean we are not just a team that holds possession, but one that poses a threat.

“We have open areas to exploit, which is positive. We controlled the match, recognizing the opposition was anticipating our errors, but our defense was solid, and the victory was well-earned.”

Amorim was informed that the last Milan coach to achieve 11 points in his first five Serie A matches (with three points for a win) was Nils Liedholm in 1963.

“That’s an interesting statistic, but this is a different era,” he replied with a smile. “There’s much work ahead, but we are progressing and learning. We faced challenges in recent games due to a very structured system that limited player positioning. Granting them a bit more liberty allowed them to perform better.”

When asked about the decision to allow greater freedom, and if players had requested tactical changes, Amorim explained: “It’s an assessment of the matches and player capabilities. Naturally, I heed the players’ input, but a manager, especially at a major club, constantly observes and understands their players. However, each player tends to push the game towards their strengths, which can complicate establishing a clear team identity.

“The decision is ultimately mine. My feeling in the recent matches mirrors what I observed at Manchester United, and I must not repeat that error. Sometimes, our player profiles aren’t ideally suited for a particular style. If that’s the case, we must adapt.

“I think our approach worked today. In other games, we might revert to a three-man build-up. The crucial element is possessing varied playing styles. This is particularly vital in Italy, where coaches are astute tacticians, excelling in man-to-man marking. When they lose the reference point of our intended play, it becomes harder for them to decipher our movement, just as they make it more challenging for me to analyze their teams.”

There has been considerable discussion regarding Luka Modric's role, who returned to the starting lineup after being substituted at halftime against Lazio and not playing against Benfica.

“For him to perform at his best, we need to maintain possession extensively. However, he is prepared to play whenever his contribution is required. In certain matches, such as the first half against Lazio, if the game focuses solely on transitions, it’s not ideal for Luka, nor for Ardon Jashari,” Amorim clarified. “We must consider our available player attributes. In games featuring deep defensive blocks, we can effectively utilize Modric. We will assess future needs, but he is ready for any type of match.”

Milan heads into the international break with 11 points from five rounds, trailing the leading group of Roma, Inter, and Lazio by two points.

“Looking at our performance, Roma and Inter have had more time together as a unit, which is evident in their established patterns. We haven’t dropped excessive points; we lost two away against Lazio and Juventus, so not everything is negative.

“At times, especially following recent results, it might appear that way. However, we need to consider the overall picture. Today, we secured a victory against a capable and in-form team, but it was a different match dynamic. We will encounter further complexities. This is a process. I believe we should have secured more points. For instance, against Juventus, our play wasn't optimal, yet we were just 30 seconds from earning three points.

“Even against Lazio, considering the game's balance, I felt we merited slightly more.”

While glimpses of the Portuguese tactician's desired style had appeared previously, this marked the first truly commanding performance, featuring approximately 70 percent possession. It also saw Milan score in the first half for the first time this season, indicating a more focused initial approach.