On the eve of AC Milan’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge, Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders addressed the media alongside manager Paulo Fonseca. The summer signing shared his thoughts on his role, ambitions, and recent red card incident.
When asked about how Champions League matches could aid his development, Reijnders emphasized the importance of being decisive: “It’s important for me to be decisive. We midfielders are the engine of the team. We did well against Udinese, tomorrow it will be important to play in the same way.”
Addressing the difference in refereeing standards between domestic and European competitions, particularly in light of his recent red card, Reijnders showed a mature attitude: “I don’t know, we’ll see tomorrow. The important thing is not to get into certain situations again. I need to be more careful and avoid repeating such things.”
On his preferred position and discussions with the manager, Reijnders described himself as versatile: “I’m a box-to-box player. I’ve played in all midfield roles. I’m a number 8, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play in other positions. It’s up to the manager to tell me where he needs me to play.”
Reijnders also spoke about his ambitions at Milan, referencing Dutch legends who have made their mark at the club: “I think I want to become more decisive with assists and goals. I want to win cups and titles every season, like every player.”
When asked about his inspirations, particularly Dutch legend Johan Neeskens, Reijnders showed his focus on the present: “I’ve never seen Neeskens play. Football was different in that period. I try to always show my qualities.”
