Alexis Saelemaekers has confirmed that he is enjoying his new role at AC Milan, and had nothing but praise for Luka Modric.
Milan made it back to back wins in Serie A as they beat Bologna 1-0 at San Siro on Sunday night, with Modric the match-winner. He scored the only goal on the hour mark and the assist came from Saelemaekers, who cut the ball back from the right flank.
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In addition to having the assist for the winning goal, it was another performance full of endeavour and hard work from Saelemaekers. The Belgian is quickly becoming an essential component of the team, and that comes after he shone for his country over the international break too.
‘We have to be humble’
Saelemaekers spoke to DAZN after the full-time whistle to offer his thoughts on the post-break win and what it means to Milan early in the season. His comments were relayed by MilanNews.
Do you like this wing-back role you have been given?
“I think it’s a position I really like. I can come from the back and attack hard. Then I’m covered by Tomori. I’m happy for the team and for Luka [Modric], who played a great match.
“I watched him as a kid, and now I play with him. It’s an honour for me. He’s an incredible man off the pitch, and we’re happy to have him here with us. He’s a humble guy, but he’s the one who does everything with goals.”
How are things with Allegri?
“The coach has done a great job since day one. The team has the determination to achieve something great. We have to be humble and keep going.”
Thank god we kept him. The wanted to sell him to roma and this loser didnt bought him luckily…😁🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️🖤
That is not really correct. On one of the final days of the Mercato of 2024/25 season if not thee final day, Milan and Roma made two straight loan deals going either direction of Milano and Rome. If media reports are to be believed then the two clubs had gentlemen agreements where Roma would have to pay around 12-15 mil whereas Milan would have to pay 25 mil for Abraham. When Saelemakers started to perform above expectations and other clubs started to show interest in the Belgian then apprently Milan wanted the double. There even was a mid to late spring interview with Ranieri who said that they hoped to keep him at Roma. Allegri then apparently stepped in and made it clear he wanted to keep him not that it matters much under this ownership. Saelemakers even at a point loaned out at Roma implied that he expected that the Milan chapter was a done one.
I always liked Saeleamaekers and probably more than the majority of Milan fans as he is a great and tireless fighter with tecnique but this is how things seems to have panned out.
I liked him for his attitude, but he was lacking in other areas. Let’s not forget he was a substitute for Messias and for a reason. The first loan to Bologna in my opinion elevated his game a lot and he continued to be consistent last season in Rome. And I think in both cases the better solution was to stay away from Milan, because he needed the playing time and he would have never had it as a RW with a healthy Pulisic.
He grew up mentally and oozes confidence, which is very evident from his interactions on the field. He still lacks in some departments, but I am very happy with his progress.
I’m not saying that the loans hasn’t done him any good but in my view when he last played for us he also scored one of the best goals in years for us against Napoli and had been playing great and then magically was benched for almost the rest of that season by Pioli. For me he looked more than ready then but obviously Pulisic is higher in the hirachy so I also get your point.
Consistency was the issue three seasons ago.
His loans to Bologna and Roma these past two years has done him a world of good.
The time when he scored the goal I mentioned he was actually playing consistently well for some time and then Pioli decided to bench him pretty much for the remainder of the season so I doesn’t agree. I do nevertheless doesn’t downplay that the loans also has done him some good.
And we should thank bologna fans, they didnt come all of them… R.e.s.p.e.c.t…