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Torino’s new manager, Ignazio Abate, shared his thoughts on Sunday’s clash against his former club AC Milan during a press conference this afternoon. For Ruben Amorim and his men, the season will start in just over 24 hours (at the time of writing) and it’s expected to be a special game. Not only is it a fixture that tends to be difficult for the Rossoneri, but they will also be up against one of their former players: Ignazio Abate. Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial! Abate was named the new head coach of Torino this summer, having done well with Ternana in Serie C and then Juve Stabia in Serie B. Before that, of course, he achieved great success with Milan’s Primavera side. Going back even further, he used to wear the red and black shirt as a player. In short, the word special fits the bill here. Speaking at the usual pre-game press conference this afternoon (via ToroNews), Abate described his emotions and discussed what will be needed from his side to put the Rossoneri in difficulty. How far along is your team’s development? Are you satisfied with the work done? “We have started a new journey, working on new principles. There are many details to improve. Growth takes time, without looking for excuses. I’m delighted with how the boys have assimilated this approach. We have had a strong week. I’m confident we will play a good game.” Your debut is against Milan. Is there a risk of getting emotional? “I’m not the one taking the field (laughs). You know about me and my history. It’s been my home for over 10 years. The club where I first became a man and then a footballer. They taught me to be hungry and ambitious. “The best way to show them affection is to make things difficult for them. Once on the field, there will only be the present and the ambition to start the season off right.” What type of game do you want to see tomorrow? “I’m not thinking about that. Right now, we are at the beginning of the journey and we have to value what we are building. They [Milan] perhaps have fewer unknowns, with players who have played together for years. “They also have a coach I respect a lot, young like me but with significant experience, who plays aggressive football. For us, it’s a privilege to be able to play against them, we have to be in the right condition to get a result.” How exciting is the matchup with Amorim? “I admire him; he has had experience at prestigious clubs. It will be a great match, and we are very focused on ourselves. We need to show our strengths at a difficult time, but I want to see the core of the team,” he stated. Amorim also spoke at a pre-match press conference earlier today, and he admitted that it could be difficult as Abate knows both Milan and Italian football very well.