Andrea Conti admits it “hasn’t been easy”, but he is “stronger mentally” after the injury nightmare and hopes to share that new attitude with struggling Milan.
The former Atalanta full-back has taken part in five games for the Rossoneri, after being kept on the sidelines by two serious knee injuries since his move in 2017.
“It’s been two difficult years, also the last period hasn’t been easy either,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “But, I knew I would return to my level.”
Andrea Conti admits it “hasn’t been easy”, but he is “stronger mentally” after the injury nightmare and hopes to share that new attitude with struggling Milan.
The former Atalanta full-back has taken part in five games for the Rossoneri, after being kept on the sidelines by two serious knee injuries since his move in 2017.
“It’s been two difficult years, also the last period hasn’t been easy either,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “But, I knew I would return to my level.”
The 25-year-old returned to be part of the squad during pre-season, but is still a long way off his former self.
“I finally took part during the pre-season with my teammates and I will be able to return to where I was. I feel better every day and I hope Milan will soon feel better too,” he added.
“They say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This also happened for me. Now I feel stronger mentally, maybe less physically, but if you are mentally strong, you will get through it.”
Milan started the campaign under Marco Giampaolo, but then brought in Stefano Pioli.
“It seems like the completely opposite to what it was before,” he said about working under Pioli. “We have more intensity in our daily work, and if you make a mistake, you’ll be called out.
“This is to make fewer mistakes, and we saw a sign of that straight away in the first games. We have signalled that we are developing, now we just need to keep working hard and we know the performances will follow.”
Before the international break, Milan lost 1-0 to Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, but Conti said they’re not too beaten down by losing to the league leaders.
“It’s bad to say it, but you can lose to Juventus. We have to continue on this path and the results will arrive.”
Conti is eager to play an important role when Milan are looking to turn the tide at San Siro, and he’s hoping it might lead to a place in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 tournament next summer.
“I want to compliment Italy on their qualification. If I’ll be called up depends on what I do here at Milan. I hope so, it’s a target I have and if I get a call, I would be very happy. If it doesn’t, I will still follow them from my sofa.”
Milan are currently 14th in the League and are back in action against Napoli this weekend.