Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images
Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images
Ruben Amorim recently managed his second game as AC Milan manager, a Milan derby which finished 1-1, and it’s clear what he’s learned from his Man Utd spell.
After a 2-2 draw against Celtic in his first game as Milan manager, the preparation ramped up with a marquee game for Ruben Amorim.
The former Man Utd manager has made no secret of the fact that he made mistakes at Old Trafford, but hasn’t gone into detail.
After watching his second game as manager, it’s clear that he’s learned one lesson from his Man Utd spell, vindicating Kobbie Mainoo.
Kobbie Mainoo with the man of the match award against Liverpool
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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Ruben Amorim wants a controlling side at AC Milan
If Man Utd fans were to read Amorim’s comments after the Celtic game, and then doubling down after the Milan derby, they wouldn’t recognise him.
A man who fell on the sword of his philosophy and idea has already changed his tune at Milan, clearly bruised from his United disaster.
After the Milan derby, Amorim was asked where his team could improve, and while he did say “everything”, a salient point about keeping possession emerged.
He said: If we have more possession, we’ll struggle less. But it’s something that takes time, something we need to work on. We need to have more possession to struggle less.”
This is the same manager who was all about playing it long, playing it quickly forwards, and winning second balls in the Premier League.
After just two games at Milan, he has switched to talking about keeping possession and controlling the game that way, instead of playing route-one football.
What this also does is vindicate Mainoo, who was ostracised from the Man Utd XI for having the exact same skill set Amorim now wants in his Milan team.
Amorim has realised the importance of Kobbie Mainoo’s skillset
Amorim said during his time at United that this might simply be a case of Mainoo not fitting his idea, and the player could become world-class elsewhere.
Ruben Amorim apologises to Manchester United fans. Talking Points.
Ruben Amorim apologises to Manchester United fans. Talking Points.
As it turns out, Mainoo became world-class at United, and Amorim is now realising that it should have happened with him as manager instead.
Keeping things ticking in midfield instead of treating the ball like a ticking time bomb is where Mainoo shines.
That is what Amorim called him out for, accusing Mainoo of slowing the play down too much and making too many short passes.
Now he wants his Milan players to do the exact same thing, which is a clear sign of admission that he misjudged Mainoo’s skills.
Mainoo didn’t need Amorim’s realisation to say that he was wrong. His own performances since Amorim left took care of that.
Still, it will feel like sweet vindication for him when Amorim demands more controlled possession from a team that is crying out for a player like Mainoo.