Ruben Amorim reveals why a ‘lack of mobility’ prompted his Milan tactical change and how impressed he is with Serie A opponents like Sassuolo. ‘People don’t give this league the value it deserves.’

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

The Rossoneri had been stuttering with draws against Juventus and Lazio, but above all that 2-0 Europa League home defeat to Benfica.

It prompted Amorim to change tack and adopt a four-man defence for the more convincing 3-0 victory over Lecce, but the long international break has seen Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan ruled out by lengthy injuries.

ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim issues instructions to his players during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We lost a lot of players, but that is a good sign that our players are important for the national team,” said Amorim in his press conference when asked about the new international calendar.

“They have to understand we need to start running really fast now, these games are very important for our season. It doesn’t change a lot, two or three weeks, there are positives and negatives.

“I felt the players are happy to return, so this is a good place to work. Omari Hutchinson had time to work and be more specific in a lot of things, so we used every minute of this break.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Amorim: ‘Milan lack of mobility needed change, Serie A has high value’" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Champions League metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Soccer2026 Global Editorial Desk. Readers following "Amorim: ‘Milan lack of mobility needed change, Serie A has high value’" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.