AC Milan head into the post-international break period carrying real injury concerns, and the situation has grown more serious with each passing day. Alexis Saelemaekers, who had been building momentum after a strong start to the season, suffered an ankle injury during training. What initially appeared minor has since worsened. New scans revealed a more serious problem than first thought, ruling him out for several months. With Saelemaekers gone, Amorim must now find cover across his attacking midfield positions, with options including Moreira and Cisse among others.

The injury list did not stop there. Pervis Estupiñán picked up a knock on international duty with Ecuador, adding further strain to a squad already stretched at full-back. Davide Bartesaghi, who was a regular starter under Allegri last season, now has a genuine opportunity to reclaim his place on the left.

The tactical picture is also shifting. Amorim, who built his reputation on a back-three system, is reportedly considering a switch to a 4-2-3-1 against Sassuolo on October 11. That would mark a significant departure from everything he has used throughout his managerial career. Milan sit fifth in Serie A with 11 points from five games, one point behind Cagliari in fourth, and the pressure to maintain momentum after their 3-0 win over Lecce makes the Sassuolo trip a meaningful test of where this squad is heading.