Cardinale Fumes as Milan Stumble: Four Issues Amorim Must Fix

FolioPitch.com – 12 October 2026 | AC Milan‘s 1-1 draw at Sassuolo on Sunday left owner Gerry Cardinale deeply frustrated, and reports in Italy suggest that Cardinale disappointed in Milan as newspaper highlights four issues for Amorim to fix. The Rossoneri took the lead through Adrien Rabiot just after the hour mark, but conceded an equaliser to Sassuolo defender Cas Odenthal less than five minutes later, dropping two valuable points in Serie A.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cardinale watched the match from the stands at the Mapei Stadium and was unimpressed with what he saw. Despite Milan becoming the first team to leave Sassuolo with a point this season – Juventus and Torino both lost there – the performance raised serious concerns. The pink paper identified four key problems that coach Ruben Amorim must address if Milan are to challenge for major honours.

Game Management Under Scrutiny

The first issue is Milan’s inability to control matches after taking the lead. La Gazzetta criticised Amorim’s side for looking imbalanced and disorganised immediately after Rabiot’s goal. In the five minutes between Milan’s opener and Odenthal’s equaliser, Sassuolo created three big chances, exposing a lack of composure and tactical discipline. This pattern of vulnerability has become a recurring theme, and it is one of the four issues highlighted by the newspaper as Cardinale disappointed in Milan as newspaper highlights four issues for Amorim to fix.

Leadership and Experience Deficit

Secondly, questions have been raised about whether Milan have enough leadership and Serie A experience within their ranks. Despite having Rabiot and bringing on veteran Luka Modric from the bench, Milan lacked a steadying influence when the game became chaotic. When searching for a winning goal, Amorim turned to 19-year-old Alphadjo Cisse and 22-year-old Omari Hutchinson, both in their first Serie A seasons. Their inexperience showed, and the lack of a seasoned leader on the pitch was evident. This is another of the four issues that Cardinale disappointed in Milan as newspaper highlights four issues for Amorim to fix.

Shot-Shy Attack

The third problem is Milan’s lack of shots on goal. La Gazzetta points out that the Rossoneri rank 13th in Serie A for attempted shots and are bottom of the league for shots from outside the penalty area. This statistic is alarming, especially after the club spent a record fee on a new centre-forward during the summer. While their finishing rate is slightly better than some rivals, the frequency of goalscoring opportunities is far too low. Milan are not creating enough chances, and that must change if they are to climb the table. This shot-shyness is a major concern among the four issues that Cardinale disappointed in Milan as newspaper highlights four issues for Amorim to fix.

Missing Identity

Finally, Amorim has been criticised for failing to give Milan a clear identity after six Serie A games. His formation and line-ups change depending on the opponent, and it appears he is still unsure of his best XI. This tactical uncertainty has led to inconsistent performances and a lack of cohesion. Without a defined style of play, Milan will struggle to impose themselves on matches and string together results. This lack of identity is the fourth issue that Cardinale disappointed in Milan as newspaper highlights four issues for Amorim to fix.

Conclusion

Gerry Cardinale’s disappointment is understandable. Milan’s draw at Sassuolo was not a disaster, but it exposed deeper problems that could derail their season. Ruben Amorim must quickly address these four issues – game management, leadership, shot creation, and tactical identity – if he is to keep the owner’s faith and guide Milan back to the top. The coming weeks will be crucial for the Portuguese coach, as the pressure mounts at San Siro.