On the sidelines of a meeting with fans at Milan’s San Babila store, AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers also gave a one-to-one interview to SportMediaset. Below are his comments.
Is this a key moment in the season?
"Yes, but there have already been other key moments. We see it as we always do, applying what the coach asks of us. Of course, the three points are extremely important, just as they will be in two or three months. We have to give everything, even when we play every three or four days."
Do you ever feel tired?
"After matches I’m tired, that’s for sure (laughs). I’m lucky to recover very quickly, and that’s one of my characteristics that the coach understands. He knows he can always rely on me. I try to apply what he tells me and he comes to talk to me. For now, things are going well."
Does Allegri ask you to score goals? You had got us used to scoring in recent seasons… Saelemaekers replied:
"Scoring is the most beautiful thing in football, it gives incredible emotions. But the coach isn’t pushing that aspect, he wants us to do our job and play our role. Goals can also come from the forwards. For now, I work a lot both defensively and offensively, trying to deliver as many balls as possible to our attackers."
What kind of period is Milan going through?
"These moments always happen during a season, when things don’t go as well. The important thing is that we’ve always shown a reaction, we’ve never given up regardless of the result. These are moments when it’s important for everyone to stay united and work hard, and that’s what we’re doing. The results will come."
Many dream of the Scudetto. What is the feeling inside the group?
"We have a clear objective, which is to finish in the top four. Whether that’s first, second, third or fourth, we’ll see at the end of the season. One thing is clear, we have to work hard every week, every day we must be better than the player we were yesterday. What happens at the end, Scudetto or not, is not in our minds right now."
Would winning the Scudetto be a dream?
"If you ask any Serie A player what their biggest dream is, it’s to win the Scudetto. We have to stay calm, organised, and work the way we do. But yes, it would be a beautiful dream."
