Jens Petter Hauge is one player whom AC Milan will continue to love for years to come and the relationship is mutual.
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There are very few players who maintain a relationship with a club like Hauge has done. Indeed, you’d expect the two to have been linked for much longer. However, the attacker only represented Milan for one season.
In that time, he scored five goals, so it would certainly be fair if he was forgotten. Yet, that has never been the case. He has always been viewed fondly and his record against Inter in the Champions League has certainly helped.
At 26 years old, he is approaching the prime years of his career and a return to San Siro is often flirted with, but there are no rumours to suggest that Ruben Amorim is looking at a recoupling.
Hauge discusses Milan
Today, MilanNews spoke to the winger about his time with the club and the time since then…
Jens, you only played one season at Milan, but every time you talk about the club, you can still feel the affection you have for the Rossoneri…
“I really love this club. It was the first team I played for outside of Norway and Bodø. My teammates and everyone who worked at the club took great care of me. It was a really great time at Milan, where there were great players like Ibrahimovic.”
Did he criticize you sometimes [laughs]”?
“Yes, but that’s normal and it was also a good thing [laughs]”
You were only 21. In hindsight, would you have preferred to move to Milan a few years later, perhaps now after a great Champions League and World Cup with Norway?
“You can always say that, but I enjoyed my time at Milan and perhaps I should have been a little more patient, without leaving after just one season. That’s football, things happen quickly and I can’t have any regrets. My time there was positive.”
You’d barely played in the last two months… it was unclear why Pioli suddenly stopped giving you more playing time…
“It’s been a long time, but after the goal against Sampdoria, I never had another chance to play. Some players had returned from injuries, so it was difficult to find playing time. Maybe I let myself get a little too stressed because I wanted to keep my place in the national team. And to do that, obviously, I had to play.
“But that’s football, and things like that happen. I have no regrets.”
The most important goal? The decisive one in Prague against Sparta?
“Yes, that was an important goal that I still remember well today.”
What do you think of the current AC Milan team? After you left, they reached their peak with the Scudetto and the Champions League semifinals, but now they’re more or less back to where they were when you were there…
“They just need to keep working. They have quality players and they’re a good team. I think they’ll get back to doing well this season. Football is tough: you have to work, keep growing, and then the results will come. I’m rooting for them.”
You said that, going back, you would have had more patience. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side… Leao wants to leave now: what advice would you give him?
“No, I can’t tell him much. He’s a fantastic player; he has enormous potential. He has to do what’s best for himself and his career. I hope to see him back at his best because he’s an extraordinary player.
“We also saw what he achieved with Portugal. I’m sure he’ll return to his best level, and I hope he does so with Milan.”
As a true Rossonero, you scored against Inter in both the first and second legs last season with Bodø. It was destiny…
“It was a truly wonderful moment for me (laughs, ed.)! I really wanted to do well in that match, especially at San Siro on my way back to Milan. It was the most special match for me in the Champions League.”
But what’s Bodø’s secret? You’re often unplayable at home, and overall you did great things last year, even beating Atlético Madrid. Quick movements, devastating transitions, and lethal passes in front of goal: the chemistry between you is incredible…
“That’s the beautiful thing about football: it’s a team sport, and usually the better team wins. And that night against Inter, just like the week before, we were the better team.”
Will we see you again at Milan one day?
“I don’t know, I’m fine here now. But I hope to come back. Forza Milan!!!”