Ruben Amorim changes approach as AC Milan deliver much-needed response

Ruben Amorim has shown a willingness to adapt his tactical approach at AC Milan after overseeing a convincing 3-0 victory against Lecce at San Siro.

Milan entered the game without a win in three matches across all competitions, with criticism increasing after their Europa League defeat to Benfica. Questions had also been raised over Amorim’s selections and the predictability of his system.

Against Lecce, however, the Portuguese coach moved away from his usual structure and used a flat back four for the first time this season.

The tactical change included Mario Gila operating at right-back and Milan using a recognisable midfield three.

That gave the players greater positional freedom, something Amorim felt had been missing from recent performances.

“Today the players had more freedom,” Amorim said after the game, via Gazzetta dello Sport. “In recent games we were a bit too static, stuck.”

More significantly, the former Manchester United manager directly referenced lessons from his previous job.

“I can’t repeat my mistakes from Manchester,” he said. “If we don’t have the characteristics to play a certain way, we have to adapt.”

It represents a notable shift from the tactical rigidity that became one of the major talking points during his spell at Old Trafford.

Amorim has not abandoned his preferred principles entirely.

He suggested Milan could eventually return to building with a back three, but acknowledged that Serie A presents specific tactical challenges because of the quality of Italian coaches and their willingness to use aggressive man-to-man approaches.

For now, flexibility may be more important than forcing Milan into a predetermined structure.

The 3-0 victory came at an important moment after three games without a win and growing scrutiny surrounding Amorim’s start in Italy.

One tactical adjustment does not necessarily represent a permanent transformation, but his comments indicate he is prepared to shape the system around the players available rather than immediately demanding the opposite.

After the problems that followed him at Manchester United, that willingness to adapt could prove particularly significant at Milan.

The major question is whether the Lecce adjustment was a temporary solution or the beginning of a more flexible approach from Amorim.

Milan needed an immediate result, but their next matches should provide stronger evidence of whether Amorim is genuinely prepared to keep modifying his system when circumstances demand it.