The experienced centre-back Simon Kjaer has underlined Milan’s Serie A title ambition following his side’s outstanding start to the season. Stefano Pioli’s men have racked up nine wins from their opening ten Serie A matches, with only Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli on a pair with the Rossoneri to date.
After a series of crucial victories, including a hard-earned 1-0 home triumph over Torino last time out, Milan head to the Stadio Olimpico to meet Roma in a mouth-watering fixture. With Napoli facing a winnable Serie A task against the league newcomers Salernitana on the road, Pioli’s players know they can ill-afford a slip-up in the capital.
Milan put their devils from the past firmly to bed last season, having secured a runner-up finish and their first Champions League promotion since 2013/14. But after proving they are top-four material, the Rossoneri are no longer interested in fighting just for the Champions League spots as they aim at their first Scudetto since 2010/11.
Kjaer, who has played a massive role in Milan’s renaissance under Pioli, insists his side believe that they can wrap up the crown that eluded them for over a decade now.
“Scudetto? We believe in it 100%. I have no doubts about that. If you don’t have the strength and courage to have dreams, you never win. We are stronger and more mature than last year and we have a hunger that is hard to find,” he stated in the build-up to Milan’s trip to Rome, as relayed by MilanNews.
It’s not only about Kjaer’s recent statement, but rather Milan’s spirit that has been plain for everyone to see since the beginning of the season. There are several examples of the team’s significant improvement under Pioli, including an eye-catching 3-2 win over Atalanta in Bergamo in early October.
However, a come-from-behind victory over Hellas Verona at San Siro in the following round has been the absolute highlight of Milan’s resurrection. It’s hard to remember the last time the Rossoneri picked themselves up from a 2-0 deficit and managed to turn things around in a single half of play.
Additionally, Milan’s midweek success against Torino came in spite of their uninspiring performance, showing Pioli’s men can thrive even when they are not at the top of their game. Those are all the signs that they may have learned their lesson from the previous years and are now ready to use that experience to mount a serious title challenge this term.