Ruben Amorim insists Milan ‘played better games’ than their 4-0 against RB Salzburg, but keeps everyone guessing on his tactics hosting Atalanta. ‘It’s going to be clear when it starts.’
It kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).
The Rossoneri are unbeaten in Serie A this season, but dropped far too many points with some disappointing performances.
They got back on track in the Europa League on Thursday by crushing RB Salzburg 4-0 with a hat-trick from teenage sensation Alphadjo Cisse, but he is benched amid massive squad rotation.
Amorim changes his Milan for Atalanta
“I think we played better games than Salzburg, it’s true we scored more goals there, but we are improving as a team and now need to find consistency in the small details,” Amorim told Sky Sport Italia and DAZN Italia.
Curiously, some set them out as a 3-4-2-1 formation, but the official Milan website has this as a 4-3-3 with Diego Moreira at left-back.
“It’s going to be clear when the game starts for everyone to understand. I’m not going to say now, because I don’t want to, it’s for the opponent to find out!” smiled the coach.
“We have moments when we play with this starting XI, so you can see what’s going to happen, but we need to be in the right spot to find the ball, find the right moment to press, everyone knows Atalanta move well and the connections are there, so we need to be smart today.”
Among those returning after being rested midweek are Luka Modric, Mario Gila, Diego Moreira and Goncalo Ramos.
“It’s for everything, to defend better, we need to attack better. We have an idea on which spaces the players need to go into based on their characteristics, and this in my view is the best XI for this game,” insisted Amorim.
“Every game is important, we want to win this evening, but also the next and the one after that.”
Alexis Saelemaekers and Matteo Gabbia are long-term absentees, so cannot be relied upon for squad rotation.
“I’m always excited to see the team, especially as we are the beginning of something. I felt we had a very good preparation, I think the team is improving, we are playing better, we need to be more consistent in the details, and we don’t have more points because in certain details we are defective.”
Cisse was expected to start after his hat-trick in Salzburg, but Amorim resists putting too much pressure on the 19-year-old.
“Every game is a different story, the opponent is completely different. I am not going to use a player just because he did well in the last match, the characteristics are completely different.
“We must also remember Cisse is not accustomed to playing back to back games, so he needs to be ready to get on the pitch if he has the opportunity to score one more goal.”