Samuel Chukwueze was one of the protagonists in AC Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce earlier today, assisting the opening goal. Speaking to the media afterwards, Stefano Pioli discussed the Nigerian’s recent growth.
Arriving from Villarreal in the summer, in a deal worth €20m plus an additional €8m in bonuses, high expectations were set on Chukwueze. However, after a tough start to life at Milan, it’s only just now that the winger has started to show his true self.
Against Lecce, he was one of the best-rated players in our player ratings with a 7/10. Speaking to MilanTV after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli was asked about the recent growth of Chukwueze and what has changed.
“His mind has changed. Now he has confidence, he’s positive, he believes in what he does. He understands what the team has to do on the pitch. He’s a quality player. I’m very happy for him because he’s been through a difficult time.
“From the outside looking in, everything seems rosy but the boys are experiencing significant pressure. He believed in it and worked hard, which pleases me, the club and the team,” he stated.
Milan will be up against Roma next (in the Europa League) and it remains to be seen if Chukwueze will play from start. With Ruben Loftus-Cheek back from his suspension, the feeling is that Christian Pulisic might get the nod on the right still.
He was good against Fiorentina and Lecce, am pleased for him, great if we have 2 solid options at RW as I think with Leao and Okafor that’s 4 potentially good wingers in the rotation.
However let’s not get ahead of ourselves, these are mid to low level Serie A teams. Would like to see him continue this form into next season and in the big games ahead, Roma in Europa and the Derby against Inter. But still, much more promising I had almost written Chuk off as a player to sell in summer mercato.. hopefully not any more!
Forza Milan
Isn’t this what CDK should’ve done? And @Kayson – he did it in the CL against Newcastle too don’t forget.
True @ Dejan Savicevic …. he’s on average had more of an impact than CDK including that goal away in St.James’
A notable difference is his attitude. CdK seemed to wither while Chuk has kept battling, has showed willingness to fight.
Ultimately it could be a position thing, CDK likes to play 2nd striker which is not our formation. But also could be persona , maybe it was too early for the pressures of Milan for the youngster 🇧🇪 ? In any case he’s finally found form at Atalanta and good luck to him, hope he has a solid career elsewhere.
Chukwueze OTOH fits our system as for years we were desperate for a threat at RW, maybe by next season we will have 2!! 🇳🇬 + 🇺🇸
Got to be honest with what I was seeing up until these recent matches, I expected nearly nothing from him (at least for this season). But boy did something really change inside of him.
Keep it up and next season we’ll have two extremely high level competing RW. Or just put Puli on the AMC position, as I always think that we’ll get even more from him if he has that freedom to roam. Just need a proper DM (again and again) if Puli on the 10 as he doesn’t possess the physicality of the like of RLC.
Yeah as sexy as that Adli pass was today (for 3rd goal) it was only Lecce, can’t expect Adli + Reijnders to be solid enough against the top teams.
Also Puli as no.10 is a good shout against lower level teams, we can go all out attack there. However in UCL or big Serie A games we need some solidity, am also hoping we find the budget for a top DM this summer (Zubimendi? Kimmich? … nah I know it’s unrealistic, just let me dream 💭)
Real happy he’s finding his feet. He might be the extra push that will get us to be a bigger threat in EL. If he continues like this, one less position to worry about…
On a separate note, to me, Ibrahim Ba has been one of the (if not the biggest) disappointment in a Milan player. Very few times have seen a player downgrade so much after we bought him. There were other newcomers in that 97 team that disappointed … Ziege, Kluivert, Leonardo … but nobody as much as Ibou especially after his great performance in the Berlusconi trophy game…
you must be above 50 years of age.
Nah, younger than that… 1997 was only 25 years ago
+40 is enough to remember those guys.
my dream is to see a double pivot of Adli-RLC and Pulisic as AMC
This is an important point, even we cannot look it from the outside, but players that come to milan will be experience constant pressure, thats why its more difficult than play in a team like torino or sassuolo.
i remember what messias jr says that he plays afraid of making mistakes so he often play it safe. thats how big milan’s name burden…