AC Milan's star defender Fikayo Tomori has spoken to Evening Standard. Among the topics that were discussed is the next Champions League fixture against Chelsea tomorrow. Here are his words:
"I kind of knew we would draw Chelsea before the draw came out so the fact it has happened now is really exciting.It was a suspicion for me. When it came out I remember my friends were all saying ‘you knew it, you knew it!'"
He added:
"It is nice to see them again but I’m sure it’s the same for them if you ask them … once you step over that white line and the first whistle goes it’s kind of like we’re not friends anymore. We’re trying to fight for the three points."
On the national team and Gareth Southgate's decisions:
"Every player wants to play and you want to be involved but it’s an honour for me to be selected,” he added. “I know now that I’m not quite there, I’ve still got some stuff to do to get myself in the frame to be there for the World Cup, so hopefully I can do that. There are a lot of games between now and then for me to try and get in that squad or hopefully be in a position where I can get some minutes on the pitch as well."
Tomori added:
“There are things in Milan where the manager wants me to be in certain positions or do certain things that I need to try and remember to do on the pitch and work on off the pitch to make myself a better player and to try and be better in the structure of the team. Those things I spoke to Gareth about and he agreed, so I know I have to try and improve those things and, from there, we will see what happens."
“2020 was a difficult year, I would have liked to have been on the pitch more,” he admitted. “It didn’t happen for whatever reason I was itching to get back on a pitch and be playing. Milan gave me that opportunity and now I am here. For me, it’s another chance to see some familiar faces to show how I have developed. I know people have watched the games but going back to Stamford Bridge, where it all started is a chance to show myself again."
Tomori continued:
"Honestly, I haven’t thought about [returning to] England to be honest or too far into the future, or whether I’m going to stay here the rest of my career or go back to England. I just take it game by game, year by year. Right now, I signed a new contract and I think that signals how happy I am, how comfortable I am and where I see myself for the next few years. But the Premier League is the best in the world, but for me right now, being at AC Milan and in Serie A, learning the trade as a defender, is where I’m comfortable and is what’s best for me. I’m really happy here."
