If Milan fans feared how their team would fare without Sandro Tonali, the opening two Serie A matches did a splendid job of putting such concerns to bed. The new architects of the Rossoneri midfield, Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, have hit their stride in Italy from the get-go.
With no intention of disrespecting Rade Krunic, whose endless work rate has allowed the newcomers to pull the strings in attack, Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek have run the show against Bologna and Torino. The latter delivered his first assist on his San Siro debut on Saturday night as Stefano Pioli’s side thumped Granata 4-1.
Reijnders set Olivier Giroud up for the opening goal in a 2-0 win at Bologna on the opening weekend. Regardless of raw statistics, the Dutchman has performed above all expectations. His speed, technique, and tactical prowess have stood out in the first two rounds. It’s no wonder Barcelona tried to hijack his move to Milan last month.
Pioli refused to let Reijnders’ superb start in the Rossoneri shirt go under the radar. The Italian manager waxed lyrical about the 25-year-old’s early impact following an emphatic win over Torino.
“The Dutch league may not be in the top five in Europe, but Tijjani is a very smart player. He understands where to go, how to move,” he said, as relayed by Tuttomercatoweb.
In addition to Reijnders, the Milan boss praised the other new signings, including Christian Pulisic, Samuel Chukwueze, and Loftus-Cheek.
“So do Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, and Chukwueze,” he continued. “he most important thing is availability and seeing everyone working together: this is the foundation on which we want to build.“
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