Ruben Loftus-Cheek, has spoken to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Here are his words:
"In life, I like to go with the flow, without forcing things. I want to be present in the moment. At first, I focused only on football; now I understand more about you. In Milan, you realise how much passion there is for football, while in London it’s different: there’s more freedom to go out without being recognised."
Loftus-Cheek on what he likes about the city:
"I like the buildings in Milan. I live near the Duomo, and there’s a sense of history in the city that you feel immediately. I arrived alone; I miss my family and my Doberman dog, which I left with my mom. I don’t see them much. I’ve changed countries but adapted quickly. I knew Fik and Oli, Tomori and Giroud, who have been a great help. I’m used to changes; I’ve played everywhere on the field…"
On Paulo Fonseca and training under him:
"Very positive. We train very hard, very intensely, and it’s going great. He always encourages us to ask questions; he wants to get his concepts across as quickly as possible. He seems very humble, in touch with reality."
What does Paulo Fonseca ask from you?
"Different things. We’re making great strides; against City and Real, we played really good football, and we can still improve quickly."
What does the coach want from the midfielders?
“We midfielders need to play close together to combine. As a team, we want to build from the back; we always need options to play the ball. In some situations, I find myself being the most advanced player, but it depends on the rotations. We move a lot."
Can you aim higher?
"This group has the drive to do better every year; I see it clearly. We have a new coach, and we believe in him; we know what he wants and follow his ideas closely. We need to trust the team, but I want to go training by training, without rushing."
How many goals would you like to score this season?
“After scoring ten goals in the season, I definitely want to improve. Yes, ten goals in the next season… it can be done."
On Alvaro Morata, Loftus-Cheek said these words:
"He’s a top player; he’s won a lot in his career, and having such a player can only help us. I’m looking forward to playing with him. Álvaro and Giroud are similar because they’ve won a lot; they have experience. In the short time we spent together in London, I realized that Morata is a very kind person and works hard: with someone like him, you wouldn’t be surprised if trophies come. And he’s the captain of Spain, bringing communication and leadership. He’ll be great for us. I can’t wait for him to play here and be a leader for this team."
Name one positive thing from last season, and one negative aspect?
“The good: second place, which isn’t first but should be taken positively. The bad: the quarter-finals of the Europa League. We had a good chance and didn’t take it.”
Disappointed not to have participated in the Euros?
"No, no, I watched them. I thought we would win, but something was missing in the end. England made significant progress with Gareth Southgate, reaching semi-finals and finals in major tournaments. We were just unlucky. No, it’s part of football. Actually, I was proud of the boys."
Loftus-Cheek and his style of clothing:
"Oh no, I’m the one who dresses the worst; I almost always wear tracksuits. I have a sporty look. I remember the first football shirt I had was a fourth kit from Arsenal, chosen because I was crazy about Thierry Henry; I even got my hair cut short like him. If I had to choose a shirt from the past now, I’d like to have an old Brazil one, let’s say from Brazil ’70."
