AC Milan star centre back Simon Kjaer has granted an interview to the microphones of SportWeek, the weekly magazine of La Gazzetta dello Sport:
"I had never suffered such a serious injury and for the first time in my career I had to face a period in which I would have worked alone, far away from the rest of the group. My mother said to me: pretend to be a hermit, one of those who live in the forest, separated from everything and everyone. I felt just like that. Yes, the club was close to me, the companions wrote to me encouraging me , but in the end it was I who had to get up at 8 in the morning every day to work until 8 in the evening: therapy, rehabilitation alone with the physiotherapist. So I said to myself, if I look like a hermit, that's it."
Simon Kjaer added:
"When I got hurt, I pulled the plug from football for four months. I didn't even watch the games. I was in contact with Pioli and his staff, nothing else. I didn't go to Milanello because I had nothing to say and nothing to do. I returned more or less with ten games to go because I had to start doing some work with the team again and it gave something back to me. The boys welcomed me by giving me the shirt with my name signed by all of them. Milan is really a family and I love everyone. What did my injury steal from me? I know I have given a great hand in winning this Scudetto because it was the conclusion of a path of technical and mental growth that began two and a half years ago when I arrived at Milan. Last year I only played 11 games, but I feel the Scudetto is mine. We all won it together. We celebrated as champions have to do. I usually keep things inside, but sometimes I am able to get them out."
On his teammates:
"Daniel Maldini seemed to me to have matured, more ready. I hope he can prove himself at Spezia where he went on loan. The club has done well because he needs a loan. About Leao and Tonali? I say that I want to see them this year: they are no longer kids, they have to grow enormously. What they did last year is no longer enough. Leao has extraordinary qualities and therefore cannot afford games in which one sees little: he must always be decisive. If he can make this leap, he can become one of the top five in the world. Then I want to see Origi: I was with him in Lille, he was a kid, now I expect a champion who makes a difference because he has everything to be, speed, body and feet. Even Bennacer has to grow,carving out an important role."
Kjaer on Pierre Kalulu's growth:
"Pierre has had a fantastic season. From my point of view he is not a rival. If I do my job, if I'm fine, there is only one who can decide, Pioli. Then I can get angry with him, but not with Kalulu, Tomori or Gabbia because they are colleagues and one of them will be at my side on the field. I will need them, their help, so they can never to be rivals. I know that this year I will not play 45 games. There will be opportunities for everyone, but obviously I want to play. When the derby takes place I want to play."
Kjaer on the new season:
"The opponents were aggressive on the market. When there were ten games to go, nobody believed in our Scudetto. Now it gets even tougher because everyone wants to beat the Italian champions. But we can still grow. Nobody, here at Milan, has finished doing it yet. Even us old men: if the body starts to collapse, the head has to go faster."
