Ruben Amorim was left disappointed by his AC Milan defence after Sassuolo's equaliser on Sunday, saying his team could not afford to concede the way in which they did. 

Amorim's unbeaten start to life in the Milan dugout continued with a 1-1 draw at MAPEI Stadium, though it is now three stalemates in the Rossoneri's last four league games. 

Milan had taken the lead in the 63rd minute when substitute Luka Modric slipped Adrien Rabiot into the box, with the French midfielder rifling in at Arijanet Muric's near post. 

However, Sassuolo hit back through Cas Odenthal five minutes later, with Kristian Thorstvedt then seeing a goal ruled out late on for a foul on Goncalo Ramos in the build-up. 

Milan were able to leave with a point, ensuring they remained unbeaten in each of their first six Serie A matches of a season for the first time since 2022-23. However, they have also drawn three times in their first six matchdays for the first time since 2018-19. 

And Amorim was left to rue a momentary lapse in concentration which saw Odenthal sweep in from close range after Milan failed to deal with a low corner into the penalty area. 

"We deserved to take the lead, but then, after the goal, we didn't control the game, and we needed to control the game with the ball," Amorim told DAZN Italia as quoted by Football Italia. "We could drop or try to defend.

"We continued to push, because the momentum was with us, but not in the right way. When we had the ball, we lost it really fast. That can happen, but what cannot happen is to concede that goal from the corner."

The introduction of Modric at half-time allowed Rabiot to play in a more advanced midfield role, and the Frenchman continued his fine run of form in front of goal. 

Only Roma's Donyell Malen (six) has registered more goal involvements than Rabiot (five – three goals, two assists) in Serie A this season.

"I don't think it's about individual players, it's the rotation of the team, and they have different characteristics," Amorim said of his decision to replace Pervis Estupinan with Modric. 

"You know Rabiot is going to get the ball down near the midfielders, Moreira is a completely different player in that position. Modric gave us more possession with the ball.

"But then we suffered a little more in transitions. It becomes us trying to control the game in their half and them going just for transitions, even on corners.

"I think we defended quite well man-versus-man, but when we scored, we needed to kill time a little bit, and we didn't do that."

There was a tough moment for defender Matteo Gabbia in the first half, with the Italian leaving the field on a stretcher and in tears after sustaining an injury when stretching to try and retrieve possession. 

"I don't know what kind of injury Gabbia has, but I'm really sad for [him]," Amorim said of Gabbia, whose first league start of the season lasted just 20 minutes. 

"Because he works really hard, he deserved his spot in the team, and then to have this situation so early is hard for him.

"We had a few weeks with no games and everyone was fit. Now we have games, we have the situation with Alexis Saelemaekers and Gabbia. We'll just have to wait and see."