Abate vows Il Toro to spark against Milan in debut clash

Just 24 hours after stepping onto the Serie A bench for the first time, Ignazio Abate stands on the sidelines of Torino’s home ground, preparing for tomorrow evening’s clash against Milan – a club that shaped his playing and coaching career.

Personal stakes against Milan

Abate admitted he “does not seem at all excited” despite the looming debut, but added confidence: “I am convinced that tomorrow the team will play a great match, there is great drive and great energy; we must have ambition and the desire to make the fans proud. We want to start on the right foot.” He made the statement during a pre‑match briefing with journalists.

He also reflected on his deep ties to the Rossoneri, saying, “Milan was my home for more than ten years. When I see those colours it feels like meeting a relative or an old friend; there I became a man and then a player.” He joked that he will not be on the pitch, but stressed the personal significance of facing his former club.

New ideas and key players

After roughly forty days of work, Abate said the “new Toro” has begun a radical new thinking process: “We started a new path, we changed our way of thinking in the last month and a half.” He believes the squad is absorbing his ideas and will deliver a “fair match”.

The coach highlighted the central role of Giovanni Simeone and Nikola Vlasic, noting, “Vlasic is a strong player, indeed very strong, with high moral values. He was one of the first I called in the summer to explain my vision and transfer my energy. He is a right guy, a leader, and will have a great season.” He added that Vlasic could improve by attacking the box more, which would also benefit Simeone.

New signing Fortini is expected to feature, with Abate calling him “an opportunity” and praising his desire for Torino. He also mentioned that Njie has fully recovered, Zapata is training again, and the captain could earn his first seasonal call‑up, opening the option of playing with two strikers. Goalkeeper Mascardi is slated to start.

Regarding midfielder Su Cacciamani, Abate said, “We must not overload him, he does not have to prove anything. He is very, very focused and I see him fully involved in Torino.”

Emphasising the broader mission, Abate declared, “The keyword is positivity: my greatest desire is to reignite that passion and the bond between the team and the fans. Tomorrow we must believe we can get a result.”