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AC Milan coach Amorim confirms Maignan fit for Torino, doubts over Leao

·By Junior Yekini
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AC Milan coach Amorim confirms Maignan fit for Torino, doubts over Leao

AC Milan

Ruben Amorim confirmed Mike Maignan will be fit for the Serie A opener against Torino, but left Rafael Leão's involvement in serious doubt after Milan beat Manchester United.

Goncalo Ramos scored on his full debut as Milan came from behind to see off United 4-2 in Wroclaw, with Amorim's side still missing several key names, including Leão, Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, going into the match. Speaking to Sky afterwards, the head coach addressed whether his goalkeeper would be fit for the visit to Turin.

"It's a different position. He's been training the whole time. If you look at the number of matches he's played in recent seasons with Milan, he plays every match. He'll be ready for the first game because it's a different position.

"We'll assess Rabiot. Rabiot is a really important player for us. But, as we showed today, we have to have trust. We have to rest the players who need resting because it's going to be a very demanding season.

"We also have other players ready to play, but I think they'll be ready to make their contribution in the next match."

Leão's fitness remains uncertain after the winger missed the Manchester United friendly, and Amorim was non-committal when asked whether he would be ready for Torino.

"I don't know. I don't know. I don't think it's serious, but I don't know if he'll be ready."

Pressed on the winger's long-term future amid ongoing transfer speculation, Amorim insisted the club values Leão even as competition for his place intensifies.

"I don't know, but Leão is one of our players. I've already said we're happy to have him, he's a really valuable player. So we'll see, but he has to fight for it. I think Cissé, from how he's played, will make things difficult. Saelemaekers has changed position, it'll be tough. We also have Pulisic coming back. So we have a lot of players who will be fighting for the spot."

Asked whether Saturday's win would prompt him to push for further signings before the transfer window closes, Amorim kept his answer brief.

"Now we have a plan. And we'll do what we think is best for the club, not just for today, but also for the future. So we'll see what happens."

The coach also used the post-match interview to clarify his decision to cut four players from his plans two weeks before the market closes.

"All four of them [Nkunku, Fofana, Tomori and Odogu] have done really well during pre-season, but we have to make choices. We're changing and I think it's important to really change right now because we're at the start of a project. We have some young lads who will get space and I have to create it for them.

"I still want to stress that they've done really well during pre-season. But, as I told you when we came back from Jakarta, we have to prepare for the season. And with almost 40 players it's impossible to prepare properly. So I'm sorry for the lads, but we have to do it. And there's another thing I want to say..."

Asked to elaborate, Amorim addressed the extended break given to three senior players.

"Another thing I want to say is about the situation with Mike, Rabiot and Modrić. Rabiot, Modrić and Maignan had more days off because they played more. That was important to me. Everyone complains about the number of matches and about players not being able to cope with the workload, and I gave those players the extra days because I already knew they weren't going to be able to play today's match. So I gave them another three days. Nothing will change.

"And for me it's really important to say that it was my decision, not the players'. And they want to train. Tomorrow they'll be at Milanello preparing for the first match. They had a full programme and they followed the programme, because we have proof that they did. So I want this to be really clear, because I think it's important."