Strahinja Pavlović has laid out what Ruben Amorim is asking of his defenders as Milan prepare to open their season away at Torino, describing a side built to hold the ball and defend from a high line.
The visit to Turin is the first real look at Amorim's Milan in a competitive setting, and the numbers make it an awkward starting point. The Rossoneri have won this fixture only twice in the last 13 years, and Ignazio Abate sits in the opposing dugout.
Speaking to the media before kick-off, Pavlović framed the opener as a test the squad is ready for. "We are starting tonight and we are ready. We want to demonstrate everything that the coach has asked of us. We are playing against a tough team, so we have to be very careful. We want to start with three points, that's very important for us."
The clearest tactical shift under the new coach is the defensive line. Asked about playing higher up the pitch, Pavlović pointed to the break from last season. "With the new coach, things are different than last year. We are playing with a high line. We'll see how it will go," he said with a laugh.
The Serbian also detailed the individual brief Amorim has given him, one that puts as much weight on possession as on defending. "I've spoken a lot with him. He wants a defender who plays with the ball and a team that keeps possession for 90 minutes. We have to keep possession if we want to win."
Pavlović lines up alongside Mario Gila and Koni De Winter in the back three. Matteo Gabbia had been reported as fully fit for the trip, but his place on the bench suggests Amorim chose not to risk him from the start.
From here, the question is whether a defence still learning Amorim's high line can hold up against a Torino side that has made this fixture a stubborn one for Milan.