Amorim evokes the 'Parisian spirit'

Perth - AFP - The new Portuguese manager of AC Milan, Ruben Amorim, pledged on Tuesday to honor the legacy of club legend Franco Baresi, who passed away 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 being dismissed by English club Manchester United in January, and is preparing to face their fierce rivals Inter Milan in a derby scheduled for Wednesday in Perth, western Australia.

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 that 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 preserve this spirit throughout the season.”

The match will be emotional, as it will be Milan’s first since Baresi’s death. Baresi was the team’s captain during its golden era in the 1980s and 1990s.

Amorim said, “When you speak with 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.”

Milan will continue their preparations for the new season by facing English club Chelsea in Jakarta on Saturday. Meanwhile, Inter, which defeated English club Manchester City on penalties in Hong Kong last Saturday, will remain in Perth to face their compatriots Juventus on the same day.