Milan defeated Torino 2-1 away in the opening round of Serie A, and manager Amorim spoke to Sky Sport Italia after the match.

How satisfied are you with your debut? Did it go as planned, or did things become more complicated and difficult during the final stages, particularly in the last 10 minutes?

Very satisfied. I think the first 75 minutes were one type of game, and the final stages were completely different. We were a team that tried to control possession and dominate in the first half, while in the final stages we defended and fought hard. Our pre-season preparation was excellent, designed to maintain a high level of performance for the full 90 minutes, and we even conducted two full simulations for this reason.

Today, we experienced a drop in physical condition during the match, and we played somewhat laboriously. But in the first 75 minutes, we performed very well, successfully controlling the game and managing the opponent's transitions. It was only after that that we felt fatigued. Perhaps I could have managed the timing and substitutions better, as we were so determined to win that I made several changes around the 70th minute. So I believe we can perform much better going forward.

You mentioned Sissoko earlier and expressed your admiration for him as a player. Can you tell us more about this young man? How did this chemistry and trust develop between you?

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I like all my players. Regarding Sissoko, what I said earlier reflects details I’ve observed at Milanello. Even when he is not training, his focus on positioning and tactical awareness is very high. He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s also working hard to regain fitness, which is crucial after being sidelined for several months due to injuries.

Now that he's here, he's extremely proud. He's eager to return to the pitch and immensely proud to wear the Milan shirt. I'm truly delighted for him. It's not just because he scored; throughout the first half, his performance showed that he was almost our most experienced player on the field. His display was genuinely excellent.

Before we went on air, I mentioned that Fabio Capello is also with us today. How much did Capello influence your decision to become a Milan supporter?

Yes, absolutely—it's a tremendous honor. I greatly admire the exceptional Milan team he coached, and I respect all his brilliant achievements at this club. In his early days as coach, especially following the Sacchi era, there was some external doubt. But he went on to earn everyone's trust, win countless trophies, and make history with the club.

As a Milan supporter, his achievements are hugely significant to me. This emotional connection even surpasses that created by later arrivals like Rui Costa. You might not realize how much people in Portugal love Milan and admire everything Coach Capello accomplished here.

Since you mentioned it, I'll take this opportunity now. Fabio, do you have anything to say to Coach Amorim?

Fabio Capello, guest on Sky Sport Italia and Milan legend: Yes, exactly what I said before. I can already see Amorim's tactical approach on the pitch, which aligns perfectly with his philosophy—possession control and an aggressive high press. My advice is that defensively, when the team retreats into the penalty area, more focused work is needed. This was a major weakness for Milan last season—when opponents crossed, played high balls, or even made simple passes, our defenders lacked concentration in the box. As Amorim just mentioned, tonight, in the final 15 minutes, the game completely changed. Defensive concentration must be addressed, especially in the penalty area and on set pieces. This was Milan's Achilles' heel last season, and we still saw it today—a small flaw, or frankly, a significant one.

I completely agree with Capello. I have nothing to argue against. We're trying to push our defensive line higher, so we haven't spent enough time defending in the penalty area. Sometimes attackers get away from us there. Obviously, we must improve our set-piece defense by being more aggressive and focused.

I completely agree with his point: we must maintain greater vigilance in the penalty area, our most critical defensive zone. While it is important to perform well between the boxes, we must also defend exceptionally well in our own box.

In the final stages, we were indeed tired. Chukwueze didn’t block the crosses quickly enough, and too many opposing players crowded our box while Baldesaghi was occupied with marking. The situation became chaotic, but I completely agree with Coach Capello. We still have much to improve in every aspect of the game if we are to become a truly excellent team.

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