A Positive First Week: Gila and Pavlović Excite Amorim
From the internal training match between the AC Milan first team and Milan Futuro — which ended in a commanding 7-0 victory for the senior side — encouraging signals are emerging, particularly at the back. Two names above all have caught the eye of the coaching staff led by Sérgio Amorim: Mario Gila and Strahinja Pavlović.
The emphatic win — with goals from attacking players including Francesco Camarda, Samuel Chukwueze, Youssouf Fofanà, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and others — gave Amorim the opportunity to closely observe the behaviour of his defensive players. And it is here that the most interesting signs have emerged.
Mario Gila: First Impressions Are Excellent
Mario Gila, one of the new signings in this transfer window, featured from the start in the internal training match, playing as a central defender in the back three — the system Amorim intends to use as the backbone of his 3-4-2-1. This is not the first time the Spaniard has operated in that role — during his time at Lazio he built experience in both three- and four-man defensive lines — and his familiarity with the setup was immediately apparent.
Amorim reportedly praised Gila openly in front of the coaching staff at the end of the session. Reports filtering from Milanello speak of a player who has slotted immediately into the mechanism the manager demands: solid defensive reading, good ball-playing out from the back, physical presence and the ability to organise those around him. These are exactly the leadership qualities Amorim is building his defence around. Very encouraging signs — bearing in mind, of course, that this is still only the first week of pre-season work, and assessments will naturally develop as the summer progresses.
Pavlović: Amorim Sees Him as a Defensive Leader
Equally significant is the relationship being forged between Amorim and Strahinja Pavlović. During tactical drills and the training match itself, the Portuguese manager maintained a constant and direct dialogue with the Serbian centre-back — a clear sign of trust and a precise vision of the role the Rossoneri defender will play going forward.
According to information from Milanello, Amorim views Pavlović as one of the defensive leaders of his new side: an authoritative reference point for the back line, capable of interpreting the collective movements required by the 3-4-2-1. Fittingly, during the training match, the Serbian stood out not only for his defensive contributions but also for his eagerness to contribute going forward: he was the only defender to find the net in the session — a confidence in front of goal that makes him particularly valuable at set pieces.
A Defensive Unit Growing With Confidence
It is worth noting that around ten players are still absent on international duty at this early stage of pre-season, including several potential first-team starters. This makes every assessment preliminary — but it does not diminish the quality of what has been seen. The general feeling is of a defence being built on solid foundations: Gila brings freshness, technical quality and system knowledge; Pavlović brings experience within the Rossoneri squad, the right mentality and a direct relationship with the coaching staff.
The absence of Gonzalo Ramos — still on holiday — and several other key players has certainly affected the balance of these sessions, but the positive signals from these very first days of work give every reason to approach the upcoming season in Serie A, Europa League and Coppa Italia with genuine optimism.
