Milan defeated Torino 2:1 away in the first round of Serie A, and manager Amorim attended the post-match press conference.

Congratulations on the win, coach. We noticed the team had different performances in each phase of today's match. How do you assess the team's control of possession in the first and second halves? Particularly in the last 15 minutes, the team seemed to face significant pressure and defended passively. Was this due to physical fatigue or tactical adjustments?

I think we controlled the match completely in the first half. Although we lacked aggression in attack, that was intentional because this was our first official match of the new season, and we wanted to manage it carefully. Our tactical approach was clear: first establish control through possession, then look for opportunities to strike decisively and kill the game.

I thought we started the second half well. Our attacks quickly paid off, and we scored two goals successfully. However, after the 75th minute, our legs became heavy, and we ran out of physical energy. We could no longer sustain the intensity of pressing and possession. When our physical levels drop, we lose the ability to press high and control possession consistently, which makes us vulnerable and passive in the match.

I believe the reason we found ourselves in this situation today is primarily that the team came into the match with an objective disadvantage: insufficient pre-season fitness. You can see it clearly—virtually none of our players were able to complete full 90-minute matches during the entire pre-season period. The fatigue we experienced in the final part of today's match is the price we're paying for inadequate pre-season preparation.

For example, you can clearly see that Rabiot's current competitive form and physical condition are still far from optimal. The same applies to Luka Modrić, which is why we carefully managed his playing time today; we need to be cautious with his workload. In short, I think we controlled the match quite well for the first 75 minutes. But after 75 minutes, everything suddenly changed, and the match became extremely difficult.

The team's wing play was very active in today's match. How do you assess the tactical positioning and rotation of wingers Diego Moreira and Samuel Chukwueze? Given the demands of a long season, how important is versatility on both flanks? How will you approach their positioning going forward? Is their relationship competitive or complementary?

Samuel Chukwueze is truly excellent and tactically very versatile; he can play effectively on both the left and right flank. Yes, he can play both sides, and he'll get more opportunities on the right flank. I think this versatility is crucial, especially when playing for a top club. To manage multiple competitions, you need two very strong top players at each position to ensure quality rotation.

Both Moreira and Samuel Chukwueze possess unique competitive qualities that are difficult to find in today's market. When Samuel Chukwueze is on the pitch, you can even deploy them both simultaneously; but when he's unavailable, you need another player with similar qualities ready to play that same tactical position and contribute to the team. This way, when we make substitutions, the tactical system won't suffer significant problems or a notable drop in performance.

In contrast, Saelemaekers is a completely different type of player. He likes to drift from the wing into central areas with the ball, representing a different playing style and approach. So they can play on different flanks depending on match demands. They will certainly play alongside each other at certain stages, but at the same time they will compete for places in the starting lineup.

Coach, congratulations again. In the last 15 minutes, the situation was very tense, and both fans and players seemed a bit anxious. How do you assess the tension shown by the entire team in the closing stage? Do you think you were too harsh on your players?

Thank you for the congratulations. Honestly, I don't want to be too harsh on my players, and I won't blame them. I genuinely appreciated their performance and spirit in the first 75 minutes today. Regarding what happened after 75 minutes, I personally believe the sharp decline in physical condition is my responsibility rather than the players' fault. As a coaching staff, we should have prepared the team more thoroughly and carefully from a physical standpoint at the start of the season. In that regard, I need to review my work.

I believe this team has the potential to do better. I was also impressed by the energy the substitutes brought when they came on. For example, Saelemaekers and other substitutes showed speed, explosive power, and intensity that gave me confidence. I genuinely care about my players today.

Of course, we still have a lot of work to do tactically, defensively, and physically. As everyone clearly saw after the 75th minute, we struggled in that period, and everyone on the pitch seemed a bit anxious and nervous. But I must emphasize again: this is more my responsibility than the players' fault. We must continue to improve and be ready for a long season.

Переведено ИИ.

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