San Siro Silenced as Amorim Pledges Tactical Shift After Benfica Loss
Speaking to broadcasters at Stadio San Siro following a 2-0 defeat to SL Benfica in the UEFA Europa League, AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim addressed the media after his side’s first loss of the campaign.
The reverse fixture on September 16, 2026, left the Rossoneri reeling from early goals by Dodi Lukebakio and Jakub Kaminski.
AC Milan
clubRuben Amorim Addresses AC Milan First-Half Flaws and Possession Struggles
When questioned about his side’s recurring offensive inefficiencies and lack of control during the opening forty-five minutes, Amorim detailed the structural breakdowns that plagued his team’s build-up play.
“This conversation of my idea is to play football,” Amorim told Sky Sport Italia. “To do that, we need to play the ball, but we are creating more problems for ourselves when we have the ball than when the opponent has it. We are trying to create the routines to have more possession in the box, we had some in the second half, but we are not creating, we lack creativity near the box. In the first half, when we conceded the goal, we totally lost control of what we were meant to be doing, we wanted to do it all so fast and without quality. If we look at the game, when we have the ball is when we need to be prepared for the danger, because we lose it dangerous situations for our goal.”
The manager highlighted how unforced turnovers in deeper areas repeatedly exposed his defensive structure, allowing SL Benfica to capitalize on transition moments. Without movement behind the opposing defensive line, the attacking midfielders found themselves suffocated of space during initial phases of possession.
Ruben Amorim
coachManager Defends Squad Rotation Decisions and Tactical Flexibility
Addressing outside criticism regarding his bench selections, specifically leaving Luka Modric among the substitutes and omitting Diego Moreira, Amorim explained the physical monitoring protocols dictating his matchday squad.
“Rabiot did the first 90 minutes, we didn’t know if he could do it again, as it was his first time playing 90 minutes. It was the same thing with Pulisic, you now his history with injuries, he just played 45 minutes. Moreira didn’t train for two days as he had a personal matter, he didn’t work with the team, so there are situations that sometimes people don’t know.”
The physical management of Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic limited their availability, forcing a reshuffle that disrupted pitch continuity. Despite these selection constraints, the head coach acknowledged that structural adjustments may be necessary to balance long-term philosophy with immediate results.
Addressing speculation regarding his tactical rigidity following the fixture, reports suggesting a flat refusal to adapt were directly contradicted by the manager’s confirmation that he remains willing to evolve the current system. The post-match remarks were broadcast live on Sky Sport Italia.