Amorim Frustrated as Milan Concede Another Set-Piece Goal Against Sassuolo
AC Milan’s defensive vulnerability at set pieces is becoming an early-season concern. Their latest warning came away to Sassuolo, where a goal from a corner marked the third time Milan have conceded from a dead-ball situation in their first six league matches. After the game, manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged that his side had failed to manage the contest properly after taking the lead—and made clear that the goal itself was not acceptable.
The pattern has emerged quickly. Torino scored from a set piece on the opening matchday, and Juventus found a similar route to goal in Milan’s third league fixture. Sassuolo’s corner added another example, raising questions about the team’s organisation, concentration and ability to defend deliveries into the penalty area.
A promising start gave way to a loss of control
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Amorim said he believed Milan had earned the right to go ahead. However, he felt the team did not respond to that advantage with the composure needed to control the game. Instead, Milan continued to press forward but struggled to retain possession, giving Sassuolo opportunities to threaten.
“I think we deserved the lead, but after the goal we did not control the match or the play,” Amorim explained. He added that continuing to attack was understandable while Milan had the momentum, but the team needed to do so with greater discipline and better decision-making.
The distinction is important. Amorim was not necessarily calling for Milan to retreat after scoring. Rather, his comments pointed to a need for more effective game management: keeping the ball, choosing the right moments to advance and avoiding rushed attacks that allow the opposition to regain possession and build pressure.
Why the corner conceded matters
Goals from set pieces can be especially damaging because they often come from situations teams have time to prepare for. A corner gives the defending side a chance to organise its marking, assign responsibilities and anticipate the delivery. When those plans break down, the result can reflect a lapse in communication or concentration as much as a technical error.
Amorim was particularly direct about Sassuolo’s goal, saying that while losing control during an open match can happen, conceding from the corner “cannot.” His response underlines how seriously Milan view the issue. The team may accept that opponents will create chances during a competitive game, but repeated failures on dead balls are harder to excuse because they are an established part of defensive preparation.
Set-piece defending is not only about winning the first header. Teams must also track runners, protect dangerous areas, react to second balls and ensure that opponents cannot exploit space around the edge of the box. One missed assignment can be enough to undo the work of the entire defensive unit.
Milan’s early-season set-piece record raises questions
Three set-piece goals conceded in six league matches is a notable return at this stage of the campaign. It does not, on its own, prove that Milan have a long-term weakness, but the sequence is difficult to ignore. With Torino, Juventus and Sassuolo all finding a way through from dead-ball situations, opponents may see corners and free kicks as a potential route to putting the Rossoneri under pressure.
For Milan, the challenge is to identify whether the goals have come from the same underlying problem or from separate mistakes. If the issue is inconsistent marking, clearer assignments may be needed. If the team is losing aerial duels, adjustments to personnel, positioning or the timing of challenges could help. Better communication between defenders and the goalkeeper may also be essential, particularly when the ball is delivered into a crowded six-yard area.
There is also a broader tactical balance to consider. A team that presses aggressively and commits players forward can leave itself vulnerable when possession changes hands. Amorim’s comments suggest that the trouble against Sassuolo was not simply a defensive matter: Milan’s inability to keep the ball after scoring helped the hosts build momentum and win opportunities to attack.
Game management becomes the next test
Amorim’s assessment offers Milan a clear area to address in training. The team must learn how to protect a lead without abandoning its attacking identity. That could mean slowing the tempo at the right moments, using safer passing options, keeping more players connected behind the ball and making sure forward pressure is coordinated rather than rushed.
Those adjustments matter because a goal can change the emotional rhythm of a match. The team that scores may feel encouraged to push for another, while the opponents are prompted to respond. Milan need to recognise that shift and make deliberate choices instead of allowing the game to become stretched. Against Sassuolo, Amorim felt they had the momentum but did not use it effectively.
The next fixtures will offer an early indication of whether Milan can correct the pattern. Opponents are likely to test their defence with crosses, corners and free kicks, especially if they believe the Rossoneri are unsettled in those situations. A stronger response would require more than one improved clearance; it would mean showing consistent organisation across the full match.
What the result could mean for Milan’s season
At this point, it would be premature to treat the set-piece record as a defining flaw. The season remains young, and defensive trends can change quickly. Still, repeated goals from similar situations can influence results, confidence and the way opponents approach future games. If Milan continue to concede in this manner, the issue could become a significant factor in the league campaign.
For supporters following the team’s progress, the key talking points are now clear: Milan must defend corners with greater authority, improve possession after taking the lead and manage momentum more intelligently. Any prediction about their short-term form will depend partly on how quickly those details improve. The attacking effort may have put Milan in a position to win, but Amorim’s message was that stronger execution at both ends is required to turn promising performances into consistent results.
The Sassuolo match therefore serves as both a setback and a practical lesson. Milan’s coach has identified the central concerns, and the response will be measured not by promises but by what happens in the next set-piece test. If the Rossoneri can tighten their marking and regain control after scoring, this early-season weakness may remain a temporary warning rather than a lasting problem.
