Milan will host Lecce in their Serie A Matchday 5 fixture at 02:45 AM (CEST) on September 21. Head coach Amorim attended the pre-match press conference, and this is the third part of it.
Emanuele Frigerio (Milan Vibes): Good afternoon, coach. In matches, we often see forwards initiating high pressing in the attacking third, but sometimes it appears that the defenders don't follow up well with this defensive coordination. Even the centre-backs sometimes seem to struggle to push up the line smoothly. Is this a defensive positioning you specifically requested for tactical reasons, or is it a situation that frustrates you and that you want the players to improve urgently?
No, it's not like that. We are completely changing how we execute high pressing and the specific areas where we want to win the ball back. This doesn't just apply to isolated moments—the players' tactical behaviour and mentality are undergoing a transformation: from being more patient and waiting for the game's rhythm, to frequently engaging in high-intensity pressing in the opponent's half, often including one-on-one marking.
In some matches, we perform better. However, when there is significant squad rotation, the difficulty of tactical execution increases. When players are physically fit and energetic, executing this high pressing is relatively easier. But when their physical condition declines and fatigue sets in, maintaining one-on-one marking becomes extremely difficult. So it sometimes depends on the specific timing and stage of the match. That said, I think the players have adapted exceptionally well to our core tactical concept of winning the ball back quickly after losing it—they've grasped it very quickly.
However, I still want to emphasise that we need to continue improving. This applies not just to our defenders, but also to our forwards. We need to refine the timing of our pressing, choose the best moment to initiate it, and perfect all the related tactical details. But I believe this is a completely normal process during the phase of rebuilding our tactical system.
Francesco Letizia (Sportitalia): Good afternoon, coach. We're not trying to compare you with previous coaches, but managing the locker room atmosphere and relationships with senior players has been one of the core challenges several managers have faced in recent years. It's clear that if Luka Modric played 0 minutes, Matteo Gabbia didn't feature at all, Adrian Rabiot was on the bench, and Christian Pulisic was also on the bench in Milan's match against Benfica, then questions naturally arise about locker room dynamics and your relationship with these experienced players. So I'd like to ask: is there a risk of your relationship with these senior players deteriorating or causing conflict, or is the locker room completely under control at this moment with clear, transparent, and frank communication with every player beforehand?
No, my attitude towards every player is extremely frank and clear, and I think they know this well. Of course, when you can't play and are on the bench, it's perfectly normal to feel frustrated. But I handle everything with extreme frankness and transparency, because what players value most is honesty.
That's the core point—sometimes players may not fully agree with the head coach's decisions or may have disagreements on tactical views, but as long as you're sincere, direct, and transparent with them, they can understand and accept these decisions. Moreover, look at our schedule after the international break: we play a high-intensity match almost every two days, so the entire team must be fully prepared.
During daily training sessions, I also observe many details. We sometimes face practical issues—players' physical condition, fatigue, injuries. I'm very aware of their game load and understand each player's injury history and fitness records. I'm doing my best to manage all of this. But at this moment, everything in the locker room is very normal. The players understand and tactically accept the reality that sometimes rotation is necessary.
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