Ardon Jashari, one of Milan’s most important signings of the summer was a guest on CBS Sports’ 'Morning Footy,' where he spoke about his first months in red and black, between a new environment and new teammates.
These were his statements, as relayed via Milan News:
How did you experience the injury you suffered shortly after joining Milan?
“After just three weeks I got injured, and for me it was fundamental to have warm, supportive people around me during that period. The important thing was to stay focused and remember which club you are playing for. In my case, Milan was a dream. I arrived at this club and, while injured, I focused solely on getting back into shape, which is anything but easy because the injury is only the first phase. The second phase is managing to return to the physical level you had before. But I believe things went really well in that respect, also thanks to the staff and, of course, my teammates. Watching them train every day without being able to work with them was difficult. But looking back now, I’ve learned to appreciate that period as well, because it’s an experience that, over the course of a career, is almost impossible to avoid. That’s why I’m really happy to be back with the team.”
Pre-season preparation is a crucial phase for the season. How difficult was it to regain top fitness without being able to take part in the warm-up matches?
“It’s always very, very difficult when you can’t take part in pre-season, because that’s when you play many matches and do different types of training. I believe the intensity of pre-season is higher than during the season, but during my injury I mostly trained individually. When training sessions during the season feel, for lack of a better word, lighter and the intensity isn’t really high, you have to push yourself to rediscover your rhythm, which is very complicated. And the same applies when you get the chance to play. You always have to go to the limit, push beyond it, to try to reach your best condition again. I tried to do that. I had some opportunities in the Supercoppa and the Coppa Italia, and then in the last match against Lecce, where I was able to play more. Every match is important, first of all to regain confidence in yourself, but also to show it to your teammates and the coach, who can see the progress you’re making after the injury.”
As said, playing for Milan is a dream for you. You grew up in Switzerland and now you’re at your dream club. What was this transition like for you? Jashari replied
“When I was young, I grew up in Swiss academies and went through the entire pathway there. If I look back now and think about where I am and where I play today compared to two or two and a half years ago, it’s hard to describe how demanding the journey to get here has been. But looking back, it was definitely crucial never to give up, to work hard, and to have the right people around you, especially family. The circle is always very, very small when you want to achieve something big, but I think that from a very young age everyone always saw me with the ball at my feet, with the goal of becoming a professional. That was always my dream, and the journey from my first day as a professional to today has been an incredible experience. I hope this path can continue like this in the future as well.”
At Milan you have the chance to play alongside some of the best players in the world. What is it like learning from them on and off the pitch?
“Luka Modrić is simply incredible to watch. His calmness, his experience, and everything he manages to transmit to the team. It’s really hard to put into words what kind of person he is.”
Tell us something about Pulisic:
“Pulisic is a truly exceptional person. In the dressing room he sits next to me, so we exchange a few words every day. He’s very intelligent and a key player for our team. He can make the difference in any match, at any moment. With just one action, he can decide a game. As a person, he’s fantastic with everyone. I also really admire the fact that he always tries to help younger players or new arrivals, like me, integrate better into the group.”
Jashari, Recently we spoke with Rafael Leão about your coach. Can you tell us a bit about the advice Allegri gives you to help you improve?
“Allegri is a coach with tremendous experience in Italian football and he has won many trophies. He’s someone we have to listen to. In the end, regardless of the position he sees a player in, he always has the right feeling. This doesn’t only apply to Rafa, but to the entire team. It’s fundamental to try to understand what he likes, both on and off the pitch, and then try to put it into practice. For the whole team, it’s important to understand what the coach wants, on the pitch and outside it, and try to follow him, as we saw in the derby as well."
