Ruben Loftus-Cheek has only been back for a few weeks after suffering a serious jaw injury at the end of February. Now, he is looking forward to help his AC Milan teammates in the final stretch of the season.
The English midfielder spoke to Serie A’s official channels. Here are his comments.
On the injury:
"It was a typical in-game challenge that can happen: we both went for the ball and collided. Corvi messaged me after the match saying it wasn’t intentional, and I appreciated that. I told him these things happen and that there was no problem. The worst is over now and I’m happy."
How are you feeling?
"I feel good. I no longer have any pain in my face and I can eat normally. Aesthetically everything is fine now as well. I trained on my own for quite a while, so I feel fit. I couldn’t train with the group only because I had to avoid possible contact. Now I’m back training with the team, and in matches I’ll wear protection. I feel safe," said Loftus-Cheek.
On missing important big matches:
"It’s not easy when there are big games and you can’t play, especially a match like the Derby, one of the most important for the fans. All eyes are on San Siro, and not being able to take part hurts. But it’s part of sport, there will always be games you can’t play. Against Inter I supported my teammates from the dressing room and it went well. A lot can change from one match to another, but we’re still in a good position in the table and that’s what we’re focused on."
On Massimiliano Allegri, Loftus-Cheek commented:
"The coach pushes us a lot. What he asked of us at the start of the season (15 goals between me and Fofana) was clear, but you don’t always reach the target. He’s very playful, but he also knows how to apply pressure when needed to get more out of his players. Every coach is different, and that’s his style. We have mutual respect, but above all we both want to win."
On the current season:
"Unfortunately, I haven’t had much consistency this year. I’ve also played in different positions, both on the right side of a three-man midfield and as an attacker, which are very different roles. You have to be ready to adapt your approach depending on the position. I’m used to that versatility because my physical attributes help me in both roles. I’m happy to help the team regardless of where I play."
How important is returning to Europe?
"My personal goal is the team’s goal. Individual achievements mean nothing if the collective one doesn’t come. We just have to focus on winning. It won’t be easy, but we have to try match by match. You can play well one game and struggle the next. We need to concentrate on the remaining matches, and then we’ll see where we end up."
