Amorim Bemoans Dropped Points in Dissection of Sassuolo Draw: A Question of Mentality

FolioPitch.com – 12 October 2026 | Ruben Amorim bemoans dropped points in dissection of Sassuolo draw A question of mentality, insisting that he and his AC Milan side cannot feel satisfied with any match that ends without a win. The Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia on Saturday evening, a result that leaves them frustrated and looking up at the teams above them in the Serie A table.

After taking the lead midway through the second half through Adrien Rabiot’s rocket of a strike, Milan were pegged back within minutes by Odenthal’s goal from a corner. Given the amount of chances created, it felt like two points dropped, especially with Inter and Lazio – both higher in the table – managing to win, while Roma and Como played out a goalless draw earlier in the day.

Speaking to Sky after the match, Amorim gave a candid assessment of his team’s performance, which was his third draw in the league out of six games since taking over. “When we don’t win, we’re never satisfied,” he said. “We still have a lot of things to improve on, but we’ve shown some improvement. We controlled most of the game, we wanted to push our opponents, score goals, and we had more responsibility on the pitch.”

The Portuguese coach highlighted the game’s fluctuating nature, noting that the middle portion was good but the beginning and end were less so. “We did a good job of containing and controlling many of their transitions well. We deserved the lead, but after the goal, it’s clear we should have managed the game better, kept more possession, and curbed the opponent’s reaction,” he explained. “We can’t afford to concede goals from corners. It’s clear we can’t be satisfied when we throw away two points like that.”

When asked whether the team still needs to find its identity, Amorim emphasised the importance of maintaining focus and not allowing the game to become a series of transitions. “We need to keep doing what we were doing until the goal and then keep going, keep possession and not make the game about transitions,” he said. “Clearly, as you saw, we wanted to control the game, push forward, find the right combinations, and play well. Sometimes it’s a question of mentality: you score a goal and you have to keep pushing, because it’s clear that the opponent wants to try to react, and so we should have had much more possession.”

The coach also provided an update on defender Gabbia, who was forced off with an injury. “I still don’t know the exact type or extent, nor how long his recovery will last,” Amorim admitted. “It’s clear that Gabbia is a key player for this group, regardless of whether he starts or not. An injury like that hurts, and I felt all the pain he was feeling at that moment.”

On the attacking front, Amorim acknowledged that the team is still working on its build-up play and needs to improve in the final third. “We’re trying, and we’d say this is the last, or at least one of the last steps, to get to shooting on goal more often and with greater danger,” he said. He also discussed the flexibility of his defensive setup, explaining that whether using a three or four-man defence, the same players can rotate. “With four players, you’re more open in the build-up phase, and so the midfielders can push forward a little further. It’s up to the central defenders to play and build more. Today we needed to push even more, and that’s what we tried to do with the four defenders and the four attacking players, to try to press them more.”

Amorim bemoans dropped points in dissection of Sassuolo draw A question of mentality once more, stressing that the team’s inability to hold onto a lead stems from a mental fragility that must be addressed. The draw leaves Milan with plenty of work to do as they aim to climb the Serie A table and challenge for a Champions League spot. With Inter and Lazio winning, the gap to the top four could widen, making every dropped point even more costly.

In conclusion, Amorim’s side showed flashes of quality but ultimately lacked the killer instinct to see out the game. The coach’s repeated emphasis on mentality suggests that psychological resilience will be a key focus in training. As the season progresses, Milan must learn to manage games better and maintain their intensity for the full 90 minutes. If they can do that, they may yet turn these frustrating draws into vital victories. But for now, Amorim bemoans dropped points in dissection of Sassuolo draw A question of mentality, and the Rossoneri are left to ponder what might have been.