Gullit warns Amorim's rigid system could undermine Pulisic at AC Milan

Ruud Gullit has issued a pointed warning over Ruben Amorim’s appointment as AC Milan head coach, arguing that the Portuguese manager’s rigid tactical approach could prove “very dangerous” for Christian Pulisic and other established performers at San Siro.

Amorim, 41, was sacked by Manchester United in January after 14 months and just 24 wins from 61 games — a win rate of 38.1 per cent — having stubbornly adhered to his preferred 3-4-3 system even as the club slid into the bottom half of the Premier League. Milan have now moved to appoint him following the departure of Massimiliano Allegri, who was let go after a single season back in charge when the club missed out on Champions League qualification at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

Gullit, one of the most celebrated figures in Milan’s history, was full of praise for Pulisic’s contribution to the Rossoneri but expressed clear reservations about how Amorim might handle the players he inherits. “Pulisic has done really well for Milan,” Gullit said. “He’s bailed them out on many occasions with individual brilliance, so he’s a quality player. I hope Amorim uses him.”

The former Netherlands international then outlined his broader concern about a manager imposing a system without first assessing his squad. “You need to look at the players you have first and then build your tactics around them,” Gullit said. “If you impose a system that the squad has never played, you risk undermining their confidence. That’s very dangerous.”

The warning carries particular weight given Amorim’s track record at Old Trafford, where his refusal to adapt the 3-4-3 was widely cited as a key factor in United’s struggles. Whether he will take a more flexible approach in Milan remains the central question surrounding his appointment.

Gullit also addressed the pressure Amorim will face from Milan’s ownership and fanbase, suggesting the patience extended to him in Manchester is unlikely to be replicated in Italy. “Nothing surprises me anymore in football,” he said. “I’ve seen many managers who haven’t performed particularly well still get high-profile jobs. What I care about is Milan doing well — we’ve been far from the level we should be at.”

Milan’s hierarchy will be watching closely to see whether Amorim can translate the promise he showed during his title-winning spell with Sporting CP into results at one of Europe’s most demanding clubs.