Ruben Amorim threw a curveball right back at a journalist this past Saturday, completely flipping the script on a question about Milan’s “best” starting XI after a rough patch of results. When asked if the noise and difficult run meant it was time to stop tinkering and just pick the team everyone wanted to see, the Milan coach shot back with, “What is the best starting XI? What do you think?” The reporter took the bait, naming a lineup that Amorim then systematically started pulling apart, piece by piece.
Amorim Picks Apart the “Perfect” Team
The journalist’s dream team included Gila, De Winter or Gabbia, and Pavlovic at the back; Rabiot, Modric, Chukwueze, and Moreira in midfield; with Pulisic, Cisse, and Ramos leading the attack. But Amorim wasn’t having it. “What do you say on the left?” he pressed. Moreira, came the reply. “If Chukwueze plays three games, if he has a problem in the game, who do you put here?” Saelemaekers, the journalist offered. The coach kept going, grilling the reporter on the midfield picks of Rabiot and Modric, setting up his ultimate mic drop.
Why Your “Best XI” Changes Every Week
This is where Amorim really landed his punch. “What did you guys say about Modric last week? I defend Modric here, you guys talk about the pace of Modric. You’ll see that every week you have a different starting XI. And then you have to manage three games per week. And the substitutions. Now what do you do?” It’s a fair point, right? He basically told the reporter, “I know it’s not your job, but what I’m trying to explain is that your opinion is going to change, because Musah is playing really well. We can have this conversation all day.” This isn’t just deflection; it’s the core of his first months at San Siro, using a 3-4-2-1 formation that demands specific players in specific spots, a squad still gelling, and a brutal fixture list that just won’t allow the same eleven twice. Modric himself, at 40, was off his game and subbed against Lazio, then rested completely for the Europa League opener against Benfica. From the outside, it looks like indecision, but inside, it’s just smart management.
Milan’s Serie A run has them at two wins and two draws so far. They battled back from a two-goal deficit against Lazio thanks to Diego Moreira’s double off the bench, showing they’ve got fight. Amorim is unapologetic about his framework, stating, “Nobody here wants to win more games than me, and I am not just thinking about short-term, but also long-term because that is best for the c” (the club). You can tell this guy lives and breathes winning. He’s building something, and he’s not letting any armchair coach in the press box derail it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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