Youssouf Fofana believes that AC Milan can still win the title, while he shed some light on what went through his mind before the assist in the derby.
Having been a regular starter under Massimiliano Allegri since his arrival in the summer, recent weeks have seen the Frenchman dip in and out of the line-up a bit more. However, faith was put in him for the game at the weekend, and he teed up Pervis Estupinan for the moment that beat Inter.
It has become a bit of a habit for Fofana to provide assists now, given that he has 13 since arriving from Monaco in the 2024 summer mercato. Playing on the right of the midfield three, he often ends up getting further forward than Adrien Rabiot, finding areas from which to release that final pass.
Fofana spoke to the broadcaster SportMediaset in an interview aired two days before Milan return to the field against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, hoping to cultivate their title ambitions. His words are relayed by MilanNews.
Tell us about the assist for Estupinan in the derby, on your ‘weaker’ foot…
“I’ve been training with my left foot for two or three years, and I’m improving. I always try to provide the pass that leads to the goal. I’ll try to get to 20 by the end of the season, even though Leao isn’t very happy because I’m taking his job away from him (laughs).”
Did your upbringing help you get to here?
“I started playing on the streets. Ten years ago, I was still playing at a low level. My family didn’t have much money, so I started working as a pizza delivery boy. If someone had told me back then, ‘You’re going to be a starter for Milan, who are fighting for the Scudetto,’ would you have believed it?
“No, because I no longer believed in a future as a professional footballer. I was only thinking about playing with my friends. I even thought about retiring around 18. Then I did a trial with Strasbourg, signed the contract, and told myself I couldn’t stop anymore.”
And can you win the Scudetto?
“We’re Milan, I don’t have to send out messages: Fofana shouldn’t be the one sending out messages, we’re Milan and that’s enough to believe in it.”
