After suffering a knee injury at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris last December that ended his season early, Simon Kjaer returned to play on the same ground lastnight.
MilanNews writes how Kjaer was certainly one of the best players from the 2-1 win over Sampdoria as the Danish centre-back got his second start of the season after returning from the first minute in the 0-0 away draw against Sassuolo.
A long path of rehabilitation and physiotherapy did not put Kjaer off, and instead he has returned to being a leader of a defence that in the last two and a half years he has helped to grow and make it what it is today.
Kjaer did not let himself be intimidated by the pitch that saw him get injured late last year, and when the game was 11v11 he and Pierre Kalulu stuck to the usual approach of a high defensive line.
After the red card for Rafael Leao, the Rossoneri No.24 took on even more of a leadership role especially in the switch to a back three. He made 8 ball recoveries in total – the most of any players – and it really seems like Kjaer who is returning to the levels we remember.
I remember 2 seasons ago he isn’t fit in with 3man defense of gasperini, and that is why we got him
Kjaer should definitely be starting more. He stabilizes the defense and he is a much better passer than either Tomori or Kalulu. He had a couple long balls that lead to scoring chances that they miss when he is not in there.