Amorim Discusses Sassuolo-Milan and Formation Flexibility: ‘Not a Big Change’

FolioPitch.com – 11 October 2026 | AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim addressed the media on the eve of his side’s Serie A clash against Sassuolo, and in a wide-ranging press conference, he made it clear that tactical tweaks between a back three and a back four are not a major overhaul. Indeed, Amorim discusses Sassuolo-Milan and formation flexibility: “Not a big change” as a central theme, emphasizing that the adjustments are subtle and designed to surprise opponents rather than reinvent the wheel.

Milan return to action after a lengthy international break, looking to build on their convincing victory over Lecce. Despite the pause in momentum, confidence remains high within the squad. Amorim, speaking at Milanello, touched on the effects of the break, the upcoming fixture, tactical flexibility, the development of young striker Francesco Camarda, and the status of players who remained at the training ground.

International Break: A Mixed Bag

Amorim acknowledged that the international break can have varying effects depending on the team’s situation. “I think it doesn’t change much, then it depends on the moment of the team,” he said. “If you have a lot of injured players, for example, then you can recover them during such a long stop. On the flip side, if you have a lot of players who go on international duty and play almost every game, then it’s tough. Then they come back here and have to play a lot too, with little rest.”

He highlighted the case of Koni De Winter, who did not feature for Belgium and returned with more energy. “It works the other way too,” Amorim noted. “Having said the above, it’s important for the players to go on international duty and to feel important, that’s a good sign.”

The coach also expressed satisfaction with how the players returned. “The first thing I felt was that the players are happy to come back, which is a good place to start. They enjoy being together and at our club.” He mentioned that some players only played two games, which helped maintain their physical condition, and that he had time to work with Hutchinson, including a friendly against Padova.

Tactical Flexibility: Three or Four at the Back?

One of the key topics was Milan’s defensive setup. Amorim was asked whether he would use a back three or four, and he explained that it depends on the game and the situation. “The important thing is that the players understand when to play with three or four at the back, but as you can see from the names, it’s the same team. You change small things, certain movements, positions and so on, to surprise the opponents a little. But it’s not a big change.”

This echoes the sentiment that Amorim discusses Sassuolo-Milan and formation flexibility: “Not a big change” as a recurring theme, reinforcing that the system is fluid and adaptable. He added, “I just want my players to feel comfortable and to play better.”

When pressed on the shift to a back four and the success of players like Athekame, Amorim elaborated: “What I saw in the last game was more mobility, they didn’t get stuck as easily, and that helped in the build-up a lot. We have been playing with three or four at the back, I have never seen us play with a back five this season. I felt that this freedom can help my players to perform better.”

Player Development and Squad Depth

Amorim also addressed individual players. On Moreira, who played on both flanks for Belgium, he said, “On the left he’s more direct, on the right he’s trying to do more one-two combinations, but it also depends on the opponent. He defended a lot in both games, which is a very important thing for me, but we all know the characteristics of Moreira. I think he can do even more in 1v1s, so he needs to work on that, but for sure he can play both sides. You will see him on both sides in our team.”

Regarding Camarda and rumors of Endrick, Amorim remained focused: “About new players, you can ask Cardinale who’s here today. I’m only focused on my players. We have so many games that December doesn’t exist to me yet. I can tell you that Camarda is going to play more minutes now. He’s ready and will clearly play more minutes moving forward. Then in December, I have no idea what is going to happen, I’m just thinking about winning games now. Camarda is going to have more space and more minutes. Since day one, I have expected a lot from him and he needs to be ready now when given the chance.”

He also commented on Cisse playing as a centre-forward: “He has the qualities to play as a centre-forward. Not as a striker, but he has the qualities to help us in certain matches.”

Ambitions and Serie A Observations

Amorim spoke about his ambitions and the current state of Serie A. “The first thing is to win titles. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but you have to have that ambition: to win now. You need step-by-step plans to achieve big goals.” He noted that Serie A is evolving, with more goals and active playing time, and praised the quality of play across the league. “I feel at home in this country,” he added.

On the team’s scoring rate, he said, “It’s football. I could say that we are scoring two goals in each game, but I also understand that we aren’t creating as much as we should. If we get the ball into the box more, we can score more. At this moment, I cannot hide behind the ten goals and be happy with that. We need to improve.”

Conclusion

As Milan prepare to face Sassuolo, Amorim’s message is clear: tactical flexibility is not a dramatic shift but a subtle tool to enhance performance. Once again, Amorim discusses Sassuolo-Milan and formation flexibility: “Not a big change” as he downplays the significance of switching between a back three and a back four. With key players returning and young talents like Camarda set for more minutes, the Rossoneri aim to continue their positive momentum. The coach’s focus remains on winning games and improving collectively, with the ultimate goal of lifting trophies. Milan fans will be eager to see how these adjustments unfold on the pitch.