Ancelotti channels the spirit of Paris to revive Milan's glory

Milan’s new Portuguese manager, Ruben Amorim, pledged to preserve the legacy of club legend Franco Baresi, who died last week, as he embarks on the task of reviving the fortunes of the struggling Italian and European football giant.

Amorim returned to management after his dismissal from Manchester United in January and is preparing to face fierce rivals Inter in the “Derby della Madonnina,” which takes place today in Perth, western Australia.

The Portuguese manager’s tenure with the Rossoneri began with a 2-2 draw against Scottish side Celtic in a friendly match. The 41-year-old manager has set his sights on finishing the season in the top four of the Italian league, after Milan failed to qualify for the Champions League in the final stages of last season.

Speaking to journalists in Perth, Amorim said, “I feel the team is truly united.” He added, “The important thing is to maintain this spirit when things get tough.” He continued, “In this club, you have to win every match, so we need to keep this spirit throughout the season.”

Milan received a morale boost during the break between seasons after veteran Croatian playmaker Luka Modric extended his contract for an additional year.

Amorim revealed that Modric could play against Inter, having just completed his fifth World Cup appearance, with Croatia eliminated from the tournament in the Round of 32 by Portugal. The Portuguese manager spoke about the Tottenham star and former Real Madrid player, who will turn 41 in September: “We made tremendous efforts to keep him with the team for at least one more year. I am very happy with him. He is ready to play some minutes tomorrow (Wednesday).”

The match will be emotional, as it is Milan’s first since the death of Baresi, who captained the team during its golden era in the 1980s and 1990s. Amorim said, “When you talk to all the staff about Franco, you see tears in their eyes. Franco embodied the meaning of the team. The team is the most important thing in our club.” He added, “I won’t promise results, but I promise that I will continue Franco’s legacy.”

Milan will continue their preparations for the new season by facing Chelsea in Jakarta next Saturday, while Inter, which beat Manchester City on penalties in Hong Kong last Saturday, will remain in Perth to face fellow countrymen Juventus on the same day.

The festival, which lasts a full week and is called “Calcio Italiano,” comes after a match previously proposed between Milan and Como in Perth as part of the Italian league was canceled due to sanctions imposed by the Asian Football Confederation.