Rossoneri defender Fikayo Tomori has reflected on the differences between English and Italian football, ahead of the crucial first leg against Spurs at San Siro. The former Chelsea stopper will face an old rival on Tuesday evening, and believes his side has what it takes to materialize the ‘dream’ of winning the prestigious trophy.
Tomori spoke to OneFootball (via MilanNews) in an exclusive interview, as part of FedEx’s Next in Line campaign, and shared various details ranging from his role model and the affection of Milan fans to his future goals.
Speaking of the contrast in playing styles between his country and the Azzurri, he said: “When I arrived, I had to think more about my style of play. In Italy, it is more important to understand where to position yourself with respect to the ball, how to pass it. It is more specific and depends on the movements of the team. It’s different than in England, where sometimes you play on instinct. In Italy I think we tend to eliminate it as much as possible. I work on more specific aspects, I have to make sure I’m good with both the right and the left. The long pass is part of my game, being a centre-back. It’s about acquiring the technique, getting comfortable doing it with both feet. I’m always paying attention to my speed, how many times I’m pressing or recovering, or how far I’m covering.”
Despite being a Chelsea product, the defender revealed his reverence towards an Arsenal icon.
“Thierry Henry was my idol when I was playing as a kid. I always had gloves on and pulled my socks up to my knees. If he scored, I made sure to repeat his celebration of him if I scored on Sunday too.”
He then spoke of the opportunity to don the Rossoneri jersey, which he says was ’surreal’.
“I remember Paolo Maldini’s first phone call, in which he told me that they wanted me. I had grown up watching Milan in its golden age and its players. I thought ‘Do Milan really want me?’ Wearing the Rossoneri shit was surreal. San Siro, then, is like a monument: you can see it from the street as you walk past it, it seems to be addressing you. On match days, the fans are there two hours before the start and they slam onto the bus. You can see their enthusiasm, their drive, you can feel the energy they emanate.”
Tomori shared his plans for the future.
“My dream in life, even if it may seem trivial, is to have no regrets. I want to be able to say that I did everything I could and right, that I was myself. If I’ve won a million trophies or ‘just’ the Scudetto, I’ll be able to say I’m satisfied. Naturally the dream is to win the Champions League, the World Cup and the Scudetto again. All possible trophies with Milan, since I’m here.”
 |
Follow us on Google News for more updates on Serie A and Italian football |