AC Milan's midfielder, Ismael Bennacer, spoke to the media in a press conference today ahead of tomorrow's match at San Siro against Roma for the first leg fixture of the Europa League quarter-final.
Last year, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, we had an all-Italian challenge against Napoli. You scored a goal, played a great game, like the whole team. These are matches where there's a need for great mental clarity, a great charge. Will it be the same against Roma?
"Of course, we did well last year but it's in the past. Tomorrow we have a game, one of the most important games of the season. We are ready, we have prepared well. Physically but also mentally. Now it will be a good challenge, an important game."
Milan has been winning convincingly lately: do you think this Milan can be compared to the Scudetto Milan?
"It's a different Milan. I think this one is stronger though, because we have different players, of higher quality. We have greater quality, also greater experience. We also have a different spirit, maybe even a bit younger, but on the field, everyone fights for each other."
For you, how much can the possibility of winning an international trophy be the key, the push, towards the dream?
"Unique. For us, maybe it will be the only opportunity to win such a trophy in our careers. When you play in such a competition I think you don't just want to reach the final, you want to win. Especially when you're at Milan, when you have this mentality to win everything. But let's take it game by game. Right now, we are focused on tomorrow."
You have just concluded Ramadan: could you tell us from a spiritual and athletic point of view what has changed for you and how you faced, how you will face the change?
"To be honest, it doesn't change much because the coaches help us a lot during Ramadan. They handled it very well and I thank them, because it's not like that everywhere. For me, it will be even better now, because I can drink and eat whenever I want and I'll have more energy, even though during Ramadan I had data that I had never done before."
Is the double challenge with Roma worth the entire season for Milan?
"We have one game, tomorrow's. We don't think about other matches or other teams. We are focused on tomorrow's game."
How many Milan players in Real Madrid - City could have been there as protagonists? Bennacer replied:
"For me, almost the whole team. We are strong. Real Madrid and City are very strong, but so are we. I can't just choose one or two players. Even me? It's either everyone or no one."
Since you've come back, something has changed in Milan. With you, the results have improved a lot: do you feel perhaps more like a leader considering that you've been playing for Milan for longer, both in midfield and for some principles of play that you may have transmitted to your teammates?
"It's not since I came back that we've been doing well. You know the journey is always the same, the spirit is always the same. Sometimes it's just a bit more delicate, there are a few more injuries, but we are a team so when we do well it means we are working well. I, of course, have been here for a long time, almost 5 years, so I have to give something more, something I know, the experience I have gained, how the coach sees things for the new players and maybe I know what to do and what not to do. Then I'm coming back, I feel that I'm not yet at 100%, but I work every day to be at the top. It's never easy to come back from a serious injury, but I try and give my all on the field and that's the most important thing."
