AC Milan head coach Ruben Amorim revealed he allowed his side to play with greater freedom during their 3-0 Serie A victory over Lecce, insisting he will adapt his tactical setup to avoid repeating the mistakes that defined his unsuccessful spell at Manchester United.
The 41-year-old Portuguese coach faced heavy criticism during his time at Old Trafford for his rigid adherence to a back-three system, employing it in 45 of his 47 Premier League matches. His tenure yielded just 15 league wins and culminated in United’s worst-ever Premier League finish of 15th during the 2024–25 season before his dismissal in January.
Sunday’s decisive victory at San Siro brought an end to a troubling three-match winless run for AC Milan, pushing the Rossoneri back to within two points of the Serie A summit. Speaking to DAZN after the match, Amorim reflected on his previous tactical rigidity and explained why he adjusted his approach for the Lecce fixture.
“We had difficulties in the last games, because the structure was really blocked in the positions, but the players had a little more freedom, and they played better with a little more freedom,” Amorim said.
“What I felt in the last games is the same that I felt at Manchester United, and I cannot make the same mistake. Sometimes we don’t have the perfect characteristics to play in that way, and if we don’t have it, we have to adapt.”
Amorim emphasized that while versatility will be key moving forward, the primary goal remains flexibility depending on the opposition and squad availability.
“I think today it worked, in another game we can return to the build-up with three, the important thing is to have different ways of playing,” he added.
AC Milan will look to build on the performance when they return to Serie A action against Sassuolo on October 11 following the international break.
