Amorim Reflects on Manchester United Stint, Emphasizes Adaptability at AC Milan
The AC Milan manager acknowledges past tactical inflexibility and commits to a more fluid approach in Italy.
Ruben Amorim, currently the head coach of AC Milan, has reflected on his previous tenure at Manchester United, admitting he made mistakes due to a lack of adaptability. Amorim, 41, departed Old Trafford in January after a challenging 14-month period and subsequently took the helm at the Italian club in June.
During his time with Manchester United, Amorim frequently cited a mismatch between his preferred playing style, which emphasizes a three-defender formation, and his players' suitability for it. This challenge appeared to resurface for AC Milan in a recent Europa League match against Benfica, which the team lost.
However, AC Milan maintained an unbeaten start to their Serie A campaign on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Lecce at the San Siro. The match showcased a tactical versatility not consistently seen during Amorim's tenure at United, with the team appearing to shift from a usual back three to a back four, featuring Mario Gila in a full-back role. This tactical adjustment contributed to the team securing their second clean sheet of the season.
"A great victory," Amorim stated after the match. "I liked the movement, especially the attacking depth. We managed the game and read the opponent well.
"These are different times, but we're improving. Today the players had more freedom; in recent games we were a bit too static, stuck.
"I can't repeat my mistakes from Manchester. If we don't have the characteristics to play a certain way, we have to adapt.
"We'll go back to building with three, but we'll see. Here in Italy, the coaches are very good, especially at going after other teams one-on-one."
Amorim also addressed his approach to veteran midfielder Luka Modric. Previously criticized for suggesting the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner might not fit his system despite his continued quality at 41, Amorim included the midfielder in the starting lineup against Lecce. He expressed satisfaction with Modric's performance, noting the importance of possession-based play for the player.
"With Modric, we need to have the ball for a long time, but he's ready to play every game we need," Amorim added. "If we only play transition games, it's not good for him, nor for [Ardon] Jashari. In these possession-based games, he's perfect; in the others, we'll see, but he can play every game."