Last call before the international break. AC Milan head to Marassi with seven absentees and two tactical solutions ready, the result of meticulous work by Rúben Amorim on the Milanello training pitch in recent days. The Portuguese manager personally tested two different formations in training, keeping his hand close to his chest until the eve of the match.
The Absences Weigh Heavy: Pavlović, Gabbia and Tomori Out
The defensive department is bearing the brunt of Milan’s injury crisis. Strahinja Pavlović, a cornerstone of the Rossoneri backline and a leader in the dressing room, will miss out due to a bout of kidney colic, compounded by a shoulder problem that disrupted his preparation. Joining him on the sidelines are Matteo Gabbia and Fikayo Tomori: three first-choice central defenders out at once, a situation that forces Amorim to reinvent his defensive structure.
Among the other unavailable players, Samuel Chukwueze — who recently underwent surgery in London and is not expected back until February — Alexis Saelemaekers and Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain sidelined. Valuable resources who would have offered Amorim greater rotation options in what promises to be a tricky fixture.
First Option: The Bolder Three-Man Defence
The first formation tested by the Portuguese manager features a back three made up of Mario Gila, Koni De Winter and Sankhoun Diawara. An unorthodox defensive trio, but one forced by circumstance. Between the sticks, the undisputed starter Mike Maignan keeps his place.
In front of the defence, the midfield takes on a more expansive shape: Diego Moreira on the right flank, Yunus Musah on the left, with Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modrić in the engine room. Further forward, Christian Pulisic operates as a support striker behind the lone forward Gonçalo Ramos.
The result is a hybrid 3-5-2, where Pulisic drops deeper into the half-space and Musah tucks into central areas when out of possession. It is precisely this flexibility that makes the shape intriguing, if experimental: the American international is not a natural full-back, but his athleticism and reading of the game make him more than capable in that corridor.
Second Option: The More Classical 4-4-1-1
The second option is a more recognisable 4-4-1-1, with a flat back four in which Pervis Estupiñán slots in at left-back — reportedly winning the battle for the shirt over Davide Bartesaghi — alongside Gila, De Winter and Diawara in front of Maignan.
Across the midfield, Diego Moreira, Yunus Musah, Luka Modrić and Christian Pulisic form the line of four. Behind the lone striker Gonçalo Ramos, Adrien Rabiot plays as a deep-lying attacking midfielder. In this setup, Alphadjo Cissé would begin on the bench, with Musah occupying his natural central midfield position alongside Modrić.
Musah: Amorim’s Swiss Army Knife
In both tactical solutions, Yunus Musah stands out as the most versatile piece on the board. The American midfielder has been deployed by Amorim as a left-back, right-back, central midfielder and even right winger over the course of the season. His positional flexibility makes him indispensable during this injury-hit spell and reflects his genuine growth as a complete footballer.
Which Formation Will Amorim Choose?
Based on reports from training, the back-three setup with Musah on the left flank was apparently the shape used for the longer portion of the sessions, which could hint at a preference from the manager. That said, Amorim is well known for keeping his cards close and a last-minute change cannot be ruled out.
What is certain is that Milan will take to the pitch with the sole aim of collecting three points, closing this pre-break mini-cycle on a high and responding on the pitch after the damaging home defeat to Ferencváros in the Europa League. The answer must come from the field, and Amorim knows it.
