Ruben Amorim challenges journalist to pick his AC Milan XI in bizarre press conference row

Ruben Amorin appeared to argue with a journalist during a pre-match press conference for his AC Milan side’s next Serie A battle, and challenged him to suggest a stronger team line-up.

The journalist paused in brief shock as Amorim presented his challenge, prompting the Portuguese coach to smile widely. “Yes, let’s go,” said the AC Milan boss.

Believing to have heard four centre-backs be named in the Serie A side’s prospective line-up, Amorim immediately began questioning the journalist’s tactical vision for AC Milan.

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Ruben Amorim engages in bizarre, passive aggressive row with journalist at AC Milan presser

The Portuguese paused, then raised four fingers with a smile. “Four centre-backs?” he questioned, before the journalist clarified he had named three.

“What did you say on the left?” asked Amorim next, to which the journalist replied he would field Diego Moreira, who scored two goals in a 2-2 draw versus Lazio in AC Milan’s second-to-latest Serie A match.

Amorim quickly changed his line of questioning, asking the journalist for his vision on the Italian’s club left flank.

“Samuel Chukwueze [has started] three games. If he has a problem in the game, who do you put here?” asked Amorim.

The journalist responded with Alexis Saelemaekers, to which the 41-year-old immediately disagreed. “Saelemaekers on the right? Ok,” he nodded.

“To stay open, one against one?” Amorim continued, visibly apprehensive. The Portuguese coach quickly turned his attention to the midfield, becoming animated.

“Who you said in the middle?” quizzed the AC Milan boss, smiling and gesturing with his body. The journalist responded with Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric, which appeared to amuse Amorim.

“[With] what you guys said about Modric last week?” asked the 41-year-old, mouth wide. “What you said about Modric… I defend Modric here.

“You guys talk about the pace of Modric,” Amorim continued. “So you will see [your starting line-up] every week, or will you have a different starting XI?” he continued questioning.

“You’ll have to manage three games a week, then you’ll have to manage the substitutions. Now you want these guys [to start] but you also have to push at the end [of a tight game],” the 41-year-old said, as he attempted to place the journalist within his shoes as AC Milan boss.

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How Ruben Amorim is faring as AC Milan manager after Man Utd exit

At the time of writing, AC Milan are currently positioned sixth in the Serie A table, having taken eight four from four matches. They are yet to be defeated in the Italian top-flight.

Their season began with two victories against Torino and newly-promoted side Venezia, winning 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.

In their latest two clashes, against Serie A royalty Juventus and Lazio, the 41-year-old’s men battled to 1-1 and 2-2 stalemates.

In the former, AC Milan led against Juventus until a 92nd-minute strike from substitute Teun Koopmeiners levelled proceedings, and versus Lazio, they fought back from two goals down.

Italian media were mixed in their praise for Amorim, with Corriere dello Sport claiming: “The project is intriguing and complex, but one thing is certain: after four games, it's time to find a clear identity for Milan, including in its players. So far, too many experiments.

The report continued: “In just over ninety minutes Amorim showed us the inspiring principle — which has been publicly expressed several times — of his football, the dominant game, and the opposite version, the dominated one.”

In comparison, his first four games with Manchester United saw his men fall twice, to Arsenal and derby day rivals Manchester City, secure victory versus newly-promoted Burnley, and draw against Fulham.

This isn’t the first occasion that Amorim has behaved bizarrely towards Italian media, having made a strange, ‘plane-crashing’ comment in his presser ahead of the Lazio clash — on the anniversary of 9/11.

AC Milan host Lecce on Sunday evening, kicking off at 7:45pm BST, with the Portuguese coach’s side capable of climbing into the Serie A top-4, if victorious.

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