Amorim evokes spirit of Baresi in bid to revive AC Milan fortunes

Ruben Amorim, the new coach of AC Milan, has vowed to honor the legacy of club legend Franco Baresi as he takes on the challenge of revitalizing the struggling Italian giants. Amorim, who returned to coaching after a stint with Manchester United, faces a daunting immediate schedule, including a Milan derby in Perth, Australia.

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I feel that the group is really together. The important thing is to continue with this spirit when things become difficult.

Amorim's immediate goal is to secure a top-four finish in Serie A, a crucial target after AC Milan narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification last season. He emphasized the importance of team spirit, stating, "The important thing is to continue with this spirit when things become difficult." He also highlighted the club's expectation to win every game.

The team received a significant boost with veteran midfielder Luka Modric agreeing to a one-year contract extension. Amorim confirmed Modric would play against Inter Milan, despite recently competing in his fifth World Cup. "We did a lot to get him back at least for one more year," Amorim said of the midfielder, who turns 41 in September.

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In this club you need to win every game, so we need to keep that spirit all season.

The upcoming match against Inter Milan holds particular emotional significance as it will be AC Milan's first since the passing of Franco Baresi. Baresi, a former captain, was a pivotal figure during the club's golden era. "When you talk with all the staff about Franco, you see the tears in their eyes," Amorim shared, underscoring Baresi's deep connection to the team. "Franco was all about the team. The team is the most important thing in our club. I will not promise results, but I can promise that I will continue the legacy of Franco."

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We did a lot to get him back at least for one more year. I’m really pleased with him and he is ready to play some minutes tomorrow.

AC Milan's pre-season tour continues with a match against Chelsea in Jakarta, while Inter Milan will remain in Perth to face Juventus. This series of friendlies, dubbed "Calcio Italiano," aims to promote Italian football internationally.

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When you talk with all the staff about Franco, you see the tears in their eyes. Franco was all about the team. The team is the most important thing in our club.