Amorim Laments Defensive Lapses as Gabbia Suffers Suspected Tear
Speaking following AC Milan’s Serie A fixture at the Mapei Stadium on October 11, 2026, head coach Ruben Amorim evaluated his side’s tactical adjustments and defensive set-piece struggles after being held to a draw by Sassuolo.
Amorim Demands Better Game Management After Defensive Lapses Cost AC Milan
Addressing the team’s failure to protect their advantage after Adrien Rabiot opened the scoring with a ferocious strike, Amorim pointed directly to a lack of composure in possession.
AC Milan
club“We deserved to take the lead, but then after the goal we didn’t control the game, and we need to control the game with the ball, we cannot drop or try to defend,” Amorim told DAZN Italia. “We continued to push, because the momentum was with us, but not in the right way. When we had the ball, we lost it really fast. That can happen, but what cannot happen is to concede that goal on the corner.”
The failure to secure the match allowed Cas Odenthal to equalize from a corner, underscoring ongoing defensive vulnerabilities for the Rossoneri during set plays. Amorim noted that the side retreated into a defensive posture prematurely instead of maintaining pressure through controlled possession.
Tactical Shifts and Squad Depth Tested Following Matteo Gabbia Injury Blow
Discussing the structural changes made during the fixture, including the introduction of Luka Modric at half-time, Amorim explained how the tactical adjustment altered the dynamic of the match and opened up the pitch.
Matteo Gabbia
player“Modric gave us more possession with the ball, but then we suffered a little more in transitions. It becomes us trying to control the game in their half and them going just for transitions, even on corners.”
The tactical modification pushed Adrien Rabiot into a more advanced role while increasing overall ball retention, though it simultaneously left AC Milan vulnerable to counter-attacks from the hosts.
“I don’t know what kind of injury Gabbia has, but I’m really sad for my player, because he works really hard, he deserved his spot in the team, and then to have this situation so early is hard for him.”
The suspected left thigh flexor tear compounds fitness concerns for AC Milan alongside Alexis Saelemaekers, testing squad depth as the club prepares for upcoming fixtures in Serie A and the Europa League against RB Salzburg.
DAZN Italia broadcast the post-match comments.