Tijjani Reijnders gave an interview to Serie A’s official YouTube channel.
Here are his statements:
Who is your idol? Have you met them as an adult?
"When I was little, it was Ronaldinho, but since I turned 10-12 years old, it became Messi. I’ve never met either of them, but maybe in the future, it will happen."
What are your main qualities and favourite position? Reijnders replied:
"I’m a central midfielder who likes to play box-to-box, bringing the ball into attack. This year, I hope to score more than last season, as I always look for either the assist or the shot on goal."
How would you describe yourself on the pitch?
"I think calm, but with my friends, I can be quite lively."
What challenges did you face when moving from the Netherlands to Italy?
"Well, it was quite easy because everyone helped me settle in, making me feel at home right away. The distance between Milan and the Netherlands is only a one-and-a-half-hour flight, so my family and friends come here quite often, whenever possible. So, I don’t feel homesick."
What kind of work have you done to improve your shooting and assists? Reijnders replied:
"I know that as a midfielder, it’s important to score and assist, even though I didn’t do much of that last season. I try to be more important to the team. It’s something I’m working on this season as well."
How is it working with coach Paulo Fonseca?
"I enjoy working with the coach, and it’s good for me. He wants to play football the way I like, with a lot of ball possession. Of course, we need to improve and adapt more to his tactics, but that will come with time. For me, not much has changed: I get the same result, just with small adjustments."
Reijnders, how important is this season?
"The pressure here is always high, and we have to win trophies. The only way to succeed at a club like Milan is by winning titles. That’s something we all know, and we will fight for it."
Between your goals against Lecce and Monza, which do you prefer? What do you think in those moments?
"I’d say the one against Monza because, compared to the one against Lecce, it was more difficult. At Lecce, I had a clear path straight ahead to shoot. Against Monza, I had to dribble past more players around me. It’s amazing, of course, to score at ‘San Siro,’ in front of your fans, and it gives you mental freedom when you beat a player."
Your thoughts on Youssouf Fofana?
"He’s really an excellent player, a powerhouse. He easily takes the ball from the opponent and knows how to play football. He has good technique and is truly a strength for our team."
What are your feelings about Alvaro Morata?
"I think, from what he’s already shown in the locker room, he has a lot of leadership. Of course, he’s played for many big clubs and has a lot of experience. What he shows now is how he can bring us those experiences and how we should behave, for example, in important matches. I hope he gets back in shape soon and helps us again on the field."
What’s the goal for the season? Reijnders said:
"Winning the Scudetto, but not just that. We want to win as many trophies as possible. We didn’t have a great start, but I have faith in our team and in the fact that we can do great things."
