Ruben Amorim is expected to shelve the experimentation that defined his early weeks at Milan and commit to a settled side built around the club's established stars, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Benfica defeat laid bare the cost of a muddled selection policy. A hybrid lineup that satisfied neither continuity nor rotation left Milan looking directionless in Europe, and the backlash has apparently accelerated a shift in approach. The players Gerry Cardinale fought to keep last summer, Adrien Rabiot, Christian Pulisic and Mike Maignan, are now set to form the spine of a more stable starting eleven.
All three faced persistent exit speculation during the window, yet none left. The logic was always that they would drive this team forward, but the constant chopping and changing has prevented that from happening. Neither Pulisic nor Rabiot has found any sustained rhythm, and the argument from inside the camp, per the report, is that they have barely had the platform to do so. Gazzetta's line is blunt: there is "no time for experiments" and Milan's leaders must "always" be on the pitch. The club cannot afford lineups that deviate from its strongest available side.
Mario Gila has emerged as one of those non-negotiable starters. The centre-back has established himself as a leader in the dressing room through his performances, and Amorim is unlikely to leave him out again. Maignan's case is different. He has still not addressed the summer speculation publicly, and while actions can fill that silence, the goalkeeper has offered little so far to settle minds completely.
In midfield, Rabiot has already shown his range this season, operating in several positions. His best form has come from an attacking midfield role, but Luka Modric's situation complicates things. The Croatian was expected to be a "part-time" contributor this season, yet he still wants a central role. That may not materialise immediately, and his availability for this weekend's match against Lecce is in doubt, which could push Rabiot deeper into the pivot to provide balance.
Results will be the only thing that silences the questions around team selection, but committing to his strongest names is where Amorim has to start.