AC Milan’s Primavera have started the season in a brilliant fashion, collecting 16/18 points in the league and 6/6 in the UEFA Youth League. In other words, they are flying high and there is good reason for that.
As highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan’s Primavera are looking down on everyone else, despite being one of the youngest teams. They are still undefeated, as well as leaders in Italy and Europe, and have shown just what they are capable of this season.
The newspaper has highlighted five key factors for the success, starting with the mentality of head coach Ignazio Abate, the former Milan captain.
Abate’s impact and mindset
The starting point, as we have seen many times, is the celebration by the bench after every goal. It doesn’t matter who scores, they also run over to Abate and the staff, recognising the amazing work they are doing.
Abate has built an excellent relationship with the youngsters and has understood how to bring the best out of them. Many – including Scotti, Mancioppi, Sia, Bakoune and Parmiggiani – have already worked with him in his U16 days and know that the keyword is “intensity”, to be combined with empathy built over time.
Those who have watched the Primavera in training can attest to a very high tempo, with the boys giving their everything and never holding back. A question of concentration, always at the disposal of the manager. Abate’s assistant David Rodriguez has also played an important role in this sense.
Milan as a family
The sense of belonging really can not be understated, which has always been one of the strengths of Milan. Many players in that team bleed red and black, and perhaps the perfect example is the captain Kevin Zroli.
It’s an aspect that starts with the Rossoneri ‘veterans’ but also affects those who arrive at the club. Like the Serbian Jan-Carlo Simic, already a young symbol of Milanism. Or Alejandro Jiménez, the full-back who grew up at Real Madrid and arrived in the summer, increasingly integrated into the dynamics.
Virgine’s arrival
One of the bigger news is the arrival of Vincenzo Virgine, who is the new Head of the Youth Sector. With him, the Milan environment will become even more focused on shaping the youngsters, from the training on the pitch to school and psychology. The aim, in that sense, is to provide the youngsters with a “stamp”, a guarantee certificate, to enter the world as adults with their heads held high.
Baptism of fire
As has been stated by Abate many times, he wants to accelerate the growth of the players by throwing them into the action, but always allowing them to make mistakes. The key is to test them in difficulties, therefore, but without major consequences.
You are allowed six players outside the 2004 quote for the Primavera side, but Milan have gone the other way and are fielding players born in 2005, 2006 and there are also some born in 2007. There is one from 2008: Francesco Camarda. He has been one of the protagonists at the start of this season and will be hoping to continue like this.
In the team that reached the UEFA Youth League semi-finals a few months ago, for example, Adam Bakoune, born in 2006, had an important role, but also prospects such as Filippo Scotti and Diego Sia.
European spirit
The goal is to help the kids take off, perhaps replicating and improving what was done last season, with the historic spot in the Youth League semi-finals. A European spirit has been created in the team after that impressive run last season, which is in Milan’s DNA.
They have now matured even more and will be hoping to go further in the competition this time out. In other words, they have no fear and are willing to face the challenge head-on, which is another key factor.
We really have strong squad for the future and I hope to see many of them in our first team soon ❤️🖤
I never see how Abate trains these boys, but considering the results, he must be good. Maybe he will be a coach of Milan first team someday. Let’s see…