Simon Kjaer has opened up about the recent lack of playing time at AC Milan. After a very good performance against Tottenham, the Dane hadn’t played a single minute for the Rossoneri.
After struggling with a couple of injuries, we got to see a glimpse of the centre-back’s best self in the first leg against Tottenham. He managed to neutralise Harry Kane completely and clearly used his experience to do so (with a few dirty tricks).
Speaking to the Danish outlet DR, as cited by SempreMilan.it, Kjaer opened up about the lack of playing time in the last few weeks. He admitted that he’s very disappointed about the situation, but it has also allowed him to train fully.
“Sometimes it goes your way, other times it doesn’t. It’s ultimately the coach’s decision. The Tottenham game was perhaps my best after my injury, so the fact that I haven’t played since obviously makes me a bit frustrated.
“I have been training continuously for just over two months now, and I haven’t done that for eight years. So it’s been somewhat positive for my body, I’m physically at the very top.
“Of course, I’m disappointed when I don’t play. It’s been like that at Milan, and I was also like that when I was 21, it hasn’t changed. I still have the same hunger and energy to play football.
“He [Pioli] is trying to give continuity to a new system and at least I’ve got an explanation as to why I’m not playing. I have a good relationship with the coach, and he knows that I want to play,” he concluded.
Milan will face Napoli after the international break and it remains to be seen if Kjaer will get the chance from start. Stefano Pioli has trusted Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori lately but all three struggled big-time against Udinese.
He should had played in Udine.
Our CB have to rest and Kjaer still good enough, especially in 3 CB formation.
Kjaer should start featuring in our line up he our no 1 defender before tomori thiaw for the center back
Let the Viking play, it can’t be worse
Yeah weird why he dont play.. he was our best defender and still is great
Kjaer made Harry Kane look like a 13-year-old ballerina while Tomori is only making himself look bad match after match.
IT’S TIME TO REPLACE TOMORI WITH KJAER!!! That needs to be done NOW or Milan won’t make it to the top4.
You might be right. We should switch back to a back four with Kjaer and Thiaw as the CB pairing. Theo on the left and Kalulu as RB. Thiaw as the left sided CB, since Theo usually has the freedom to range forward, and thus Thiaw would cover the space better, in a defacto 3 CB stance in those moments, with Kjaer in the middle and Kalulu as RCB.
Yeah, OK dude. We have eyes.
His performances this season have been slow and he was out of position most of the time. He’s not a ball playing defender, more of physical tackler.
I’m actually thrilled Kjaer is not playing. We have better options. Use them.
“His performances this season have been slow”
You make zero sense but I think I know what you mean. But still no, pace isn’t everything in football. Just look at Tomori. He has pace and what good does that do when the head is not right? Tomori is the weakest link in defense and Kjaer can even walk past him.
He’s not wrong. Especialyy when you watch how poorly Tomori and even Thiaw lately have been. Speed is not everything. There is something to be said about intelligence and positioning, and reading the game. Tomori and Kalulu just chase after the ball like youth players. They should go back to a back 4 with Kalulu at RB and alternate Kjaer with Tomori and Thiaw.
Currently, his left leg is better than Tomori but blindfolded Pioli plays Tomori forever and probably replace Thiaw with Tomori. It would be decent pair to see Thiaw and Tomori.
Thiaw is a decent player it’s this Stupid Tomori is marking Midfielders in opponents and leaving Thiaw alone against 2-3 opponents
I meant Kjaer and Thiaw in Tomori out. Sorry