Ruben Amorim, recently appointed as AC Milan's head coach, has pledged to honour the memory of club legend Franco Baresi while working to revive the Italian giants' fortunes. Baresi, who passed away last week, was a symbol of Milan's golden era in the 1980s and 1990s.

Amorim, 41, returned to coaching after his departure from Manchester United earlier this year. His tenure at Milan began with a 2-2 draw in a friendly against Celtic in Glasgow. The Portuguese coach’s immediate goal is to secure a top-four finish in Serie A following the club's narrow miss of Champions League qualification last season.

Maintaining Team Spirit

Speaking in Perth ahead of the Milan derby against Inter, Amorim emphasized the importance of unity and resilience. "The group is really together," he said. "In this club you need to win every game, so we need to keep that spirit all season." The derby match is part of a series of pre-season friendlies in Australia under the banner "Calcio Italiano."

Modric Extension and Emotional Tribute

AC Milan also received a boost with veteran midfielder Luka Modric signing a one-year contract extension. The 40-year-old, who recently played in his fifth World Cup, is expected to feature against Inter.

Amorim described the emotional atmosphere surrounding the team following Baresi’s death: "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. I will not promise results, but I can promise that I will continue the legacy of Franco."

Upcoming Fixtures

  • AC Milan will face Chelsea in Jakarta on Saturday.
  • Inter Milan, fresh from a penalty shootout win over Manchester City in Hong Kong, will play Juventus in Perth the same day.
  • Juventus will conclude the Italian football festival against Serie B side Palermo on August 11.

The "Calcio Italiano" event aims to promote Serie A football in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite a cancelled Serie A match in Perth earlier this year due to AFC sanctions, interest in expanding Italian football’s reach remains high, with Inter Milan manager Cristian Chivu advocating for more fixtures in the area.