The surprise of the season opener: Musah has become indispensable
If there is one name that has been standing out positively in Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan at the start of the season, it is Yunus Musah. The American midfielder, whom many had written off ahead of the last transfer window, is now one of the key figures in the Rossoneri’s tactical setup. A story of redemption and trust repaid on the pitch.
From the very first moment of his arrival at the Milan bench, Amorim chose to back him: “I want to see him, try him, test him. I believe he can stay at Milan.” After four league matchdays, that bet appears to have paid off rather convincingly.
Unique qualities in the squad: why Musah is irreplaceable
The reason why Musah has become indispensable is as simple as it is concrete: he is the only player in the squad with specific defensive qualities in the middle of the park. In a team that has built its new technical project around a 3-4-2-1 formation — which demands an enormous amount of defensive cover and transition work from the central midfielders — the American’s athleticism and defensive intensity are invaluable and currently cannot be replicated by any other player in the squad.
Ardon Jashari, the other young and interesting profile in Milan’s midfield, possesses different qualities: more oriented towards build-up play and construction, less suited to the constant physical pressing that is Musah’s trademark. A comparison that is not a criticism, but a complementary reading of their respective roles.
The key moment: coming on in the second half against Lazio
The match against Lazio was emblematic. With the midfield struggling to keep up with the pace the game demanded, Amorim chose to bring Musah on in the second half to inject energy and running power into the unit. A move that confirmed, once again, how the American has become the go-to midfielder when the match turns physical and intense.
Amorim’s Milan: who is working and who still needs to grow
After four league matches, Amorim’s assessment of the squad is beginning to take shape. Alongside Musah, Sissoko and Strahinja Čukić have also been meeting the Portuguese manager’s expectations, with the coach having backed them from the outset. Three players on whom Amorim is building the foundations of his Milan.
On the other hand, some other squad members have yet to fully convince, with inconsistent performances raising a few question marks. The project is ambitious and the technical overhaul has only just begun: patience is required, but so are results. Milan needs points, and every player is expected to give their all.
A season still to be written
The story of Yunus Musah this season is already one of the most compelling narratives of Milan’s early campaign. A player many had written off, who threw himself back in with humility, hard work and determination, and who today is perhaps the name Amorim calls on most readily when it comes to picking his starting eleven. Football, so often, has the power to surprise. And Milan, when it truly believes, knows how to bring out the best in its players.
