Milan’s New Coach Tried Chukwueze in a Deeper Role. It Worked at United Once.

AC Milan kicked off preseason training on Monday, and new manager Ruben Amorim didn’t waste time making things interesting. The Portuguese coach rolled out his signature 3-4-2-1 formation at Milanello, but the real surprise was where he put Samuel Chukwueze.

Chukwueze, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, lined up as the right-sided midfielder in the four-man midfield. That’s not his natural spot. He’s a winger, an attacker who likes to cut inside off the flank. But Amorim has history here. He used Amad Diallo in that exact same role at Manchester United, and it worked for stretches before the whole Old Trafford project went sideways.

Fans at the training ground got a live look at the experiment. The club’s RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale even helicoptered in to watch. The first goal of the session came from a kid — Andrej Kostic — but the focus was on how the senior players adjusted to the system.

Chukwueze’s numbers at Fulham last season were respectable: three goals and four assists in 25 games. Not spectacular, but enough to remind Milan he’s still on the roster. Now he’s back in Italy with a coach who might use him completely differently than anyone expected.

The question is whether this is a long-term move or just Amorim testing things in July. Training sessions this early are basically science experiments. The coach is probably still figuring out his own best XI, let alone where everybody fits. But the fact that Chukwueze got that role on day one tells you something about how Amorim sees him.

Milan’s attack under Amorim figures to be fluid, with the two support strikers interchanging behind the main forward. Chukwueze could’ve slotted into one of those spots. Instead, Amorim dropped him deeper. It’s not a bad idea on paper — Chukwueze has the pace to cover ground, the dribbling to break pressure, and he’s not afraid to track back. But it’s a big adjustment for a guy who’s spent his whole career trying to get as close to goal as possible.

The rest of the squad looked comfortable in the 3-4-2-1, which isn’t shocking given how many Serie A teams use three-man back lines. The real test comes when the friendlies start and the games get competitive. For now, the biggest story out of Milanello is a winger playing midfield and a coach who isn’t afraid to experiment in front of the owner.

Preseason is full of stuff that doesn’t stick. But sometimes the early experiments tell you more about a coach’s philosophy than the first official lineup does.