Ruben Loftus-Cheek has found a new lease on life at AC Milan, impressing in his debut season with 10 goals and two assists in 40 competitive games. The English midfielder has fully embraced life in Italy and is now reaping the rewards of his bold career move, as he explained to The Times.
Ibrahimovic’s Influence
Despite arriving just after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s retirement, Loftus-Cheek has benefited from the Swedish legend’s return as a special advisor to the club. The midfielder explains, “He makes sure he gets that point across to us that we’re a big, prestigious club and the club wants to win, and he believes in us. So I think we need to give that energy back. We’re working hard to do so.”
Loftus-Cheek appreciates Ibrahimovic’s hands-on approach, stating, “He watches training, but also we have meetings with him. He wants to help the players as much as possible. If we have questions for him, he’s always there.” The former striker’s advice has been particularly focused on increasing Loftus-Cheek’s goal-scoring output, encouraging him to be more involved in the box.
Belief in Fonseca
Despite a challenging start to the season under new coach Paulo Fonseca, Loftus-Cheek remains confident in the team’s direction. He emphasizes, “We all believe fully in the manager. In training we’re working every day. But I think in the moment when things are not going so well, you have to take a step back. Because sometimes it can feel like it’s all coming down.”
The midfielder urges patience, saying, “Fans want to win, also we want to win. But we have to take a look at the big picture. We have a new manager, we need time to learn his ways and get things right. And I think when we do that, we’ll be winning. I think we just need to work as much as we can on the pitch and keep believing. And things will come together.”
Career Reflections
Looking back on his career, Loftus-Cheek admits that he perhaps should have made the move away from Chelsea earlier. He advises young academy players to consider their options carefully, suggesting that leaving at 16 might have been beneficial for his own development.
International Aspirations
While Loftus-Cheek and his Milan teammate Fikayo Tomori have been overlooked for recent England squads, the midfielder remains focused on his club performances. He states, “If he wants to phone me, he’s welcome to. But I’ve got much more important things to focus on at the club at the minute. I haven’t been in the set-up for a while, but if I’m able to play well enough to get a chance to play for England, then that’s great.”
Serie A vs Premier League
Reflecting on the differences between Serie A and the Premier League, Loftus-Cheek notes the distinct tactical approaches in Italian football. He explains, “Teams are very clued up defensively and tactically. Sometimes you can get quite slow and you have to build up patiently, whereas in the Premier League it’s very fast and furious. You may get more counterattacks and more open spaces in the Premier League. They are very different styles of play.”
