Amorim Ahead of Milan Derby: Leão Happy at Milan, Promises Different Football in Italy

Ruben Amorim, the coach of Milan, spoke about his team's preparations for the friendly Derby della Madonnina against Inter, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, August 5, in Perth, Australia, emphasizing that his goal is to secure victory, but more importantly, to continue preparing optimally for the new season.

Amorim stated before the match: "We want to deliver a good performance in the derby. Winning in the preparation phase is not the most important thing; we need to be ready for the match against Torino on August 23. Of course, we want to win against Inter, but our main goal is to prepare in the best possible way. Winning is what we want, but winning while delivering a poor performance won't give us confidence."

The Portuguese coach addressed Rafael Leão's future, amidst the speculation surrounding his status during the transfer window, confirming that he sees the player happy and excited within the team.

He said: "Rafa should be happy to be at a club like Milan; it's a blessing. I don't know what will happen, but I see him happy and excited, and I haven't noticed any difference between him and the other players."

Amorim added: "The group is very united and is preparing in the best way for a tough season. I am happy with the team I have. We are now building our ideas and our style of play."

Discussing the transfer market, he stated: "We have some ideas in the market, some are feasible and some are not. But if we start the season with this squad, I am convinced that we will be able to compete and win every match."

Coach Amorim has confirmed that Croatian star Luka Modric will participate against Inter, stating that all players will receive minutes in the match due to the tight schedule between fixtures.

He said: "Modric will also play. Everyone will participate in part of the derby, as we don't have much time to train, and with two close matches, we need to train through playing."

The coach praised the Croatian player, saying: "Luka is very humble and doesn't like all this attention. He has immense experience, but I will treat him as an ordinary player. He has to fight for his place, but he is, of course, an exceptional player. We have done a lot to keep him with us for another season, and I am very happy to have him."

In discussing his first experience in Serie A, Amorim rejected the notion of reducing Italian football to a defensive style, while simultaneously praising Italian coaches, particularly Gian Piero Gasperini.

He stated: "The Italian league is not just Catenaccio. There are many great Italian coaches, and I admire them all, especially Gasperini, because he always wins against my team Sporting."

Milan's coach concluded: "I will need some time to adapt to each match, but I believe I have understood well what the coaches do here. I want to play football my way, and I also want to prove in Serie A that football can be played differently."