Mario Mandzukic is finally presented to the media as a Rossoneri player. He joins the team on a contract valid until the end of the season. Here are his first statements:
"I'm very happy to be here. I've been preparing for this opportunity for some time. There is a good atmosphere at Milanello. Milan are doing a great job, they are first in the table. I want to be ready immediately to help the group."
Do you look to be an example for the youngsters?
"It is a young team, but they are all young fighters. Everyone does his job. I am a professional who always gives everything. If the youngsters follow me I am happy."
Have you prepared yourself in the last few months?
"I have been training hard in the last few months. If I had not felt ready I would not have accepted to come to a great club like Milan. Obviously I will need a few days to get to know my teammates, but I am ready to give my contribution when the coach needs me."
Ibrahimovic talked about you scaring the other teams with him...
"Zlatan and I have great experience. It is important to scare our opponents and protect our teammates. This is also needed and I am absolutely ready."
Did you agree to join Milan for a chance to win the Scudetto?
"There is still a long way to go until the end of the season. If we look at how the last few games were, in which everyone fought to win, it will be easy to get to the Scudetto."
Do you want to greet the Milan fans in Italian?
"I know a lot in Italian language, but I would like to have my say on the pitch, that is what counts."
What do you think of AC Milan?
"Everyone knows the history and success of this club. Winning the Scudetto would be important, but I prefer to talk about it little and think more about the pitch."
What kind of competition do you think you will find in Serie A?
"I am very ambitious, I have always worked hard in my career and I have always been ambitious. Milan are doing very well, but as I said before the season is still long, there are many difficult games to play and therefore we must continue like this if we want to get to our goal."
Have you talked with Pioli yet?
"I talked to coach Pioli, he's a very positive person. He asked me about the position, I replied that I play where there is a need."
How would you compare your current shape to the best version of Mandzukic in terms of percentage?
"It is difficult to give a percentage. But I can say that I feel good, in the last months I have worked hard, my body is absolutely ready to return to the field. Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm in shape."
How will it be for you to play against your former team Juventus:
"It will be like facing all the other matches. On the pitch we are rivals, then off we are still friends. I hope to see the fans at the stadium again soon. I have always had a good relationship with the Juventus fans, I will respect them forever, but now I will fight for Milan and its fans. Sarri? I don't like talking about the past, I only want to think about the present at Milan."
Did you also come to Milan to prove to the Juventus managers that they were wrong to let you go?
"No. When Milan called me I only thought about meeting the expectations that the Rossoneri have towards me."
Why did you choose the number 9 shirt?
"I'm not worried about jersey numbers. I often had 17, but it wasn't free. I also often played with 9 and since it was free I got it. The most important thing is to do well on the pitch."
Did you talk with Ante Rebic before signing with AC Milan?
"I spoke with Ante, we are happy to be together at Milan. My personal goal here for the next 6 months is to give my best and contribute to the team."
When did the negotiations start with Milan?
"It's hard to say when, it was nice to receive the call from Milan."
What kind of Milan team have you found when you joined here?
"There is great enthusiasm, I noticed it immediately as soon as I arrived. There is great conviction and determination, these are fundamental elements to get back to the top."
Scudetto or just a Champions League qualification for you?
"Everyone knows how ambitious I am, but they also know that I prefer to work rather than talk. Better to act than to talk."
Image Credit: acmilan.com
