Kjaer ‘crossed fingers for Pioli’s stay’

Simon Kjaer crossed his fingers ‘hoping Stefano Pioli to stay at Milan’ and reveals he aims to sign a contract extension with the Rossoneri.

The Dane is out of action with an injury but has been enjoying his stay at the club.

“I enjoy playing football at the moment. 2020 has been fantastic for me,” he told TV 2 Sport.

“Physics, experience… we combine it all, I have never felt better than now,” he added.

The former Palermo centre-back joined Milan from Atalanta in January.

Simon Kjaer crossed his fingers ‘hoping Stefano Pioli to stay at Milan’ and reveals he aims to sign a contract extension with the Rossoneri.

The Dane is out of action with an injury but has been enjoying his stay at the club.

“I enjoy playing football at the moment. 2020 has been fantastic for me,” he told TV 2 Sport.

“Physics, experience… we combine it all, I have never felt better than now,” he added.

The former Palermo centre-back joined Milan from Atalanta in January.

“I do not look as negatively at that period as so many others. What happened at Atalanta was the coach's decision. One cannot say that I wasn’t playing because I did not do well. I played six games, we had for wins and two draws.

“As a football player, you have to make the most of the chances you have, and I feel like I did it. But there can be some circumstances with a coach where things do not work tactically. Gasperini was honest enough with me. He told me we had to find another solution. Fortunately I had the opportunity to join Milan.

“I have always told my agent that I would like to come to Milan one day. The chance arrived and now I'm where I want to be.”

Kjaer praised Stefano Pioli who could have left the Rossoneri at the end of the last campaign.

“He asked me an advice on day one. He asked me what I thought about the way to defend and how we could build up as a team. He inquired into how he could give me the best chances of success on the field. He has shown me enormous trust, and he still does.

“For me, he is a fantastically skilled coach, both on and off the field. But where he has impressed me the most is on a personal level. He is primarily interested in how I feel as a person and then as a football player. I really appreciate that.

“[At the end of the last season] there was one of those situations where you cannot do anything at all. 

“I went on the field to make sure we could win some matches and show our worth as a team. Then I just had to sit back and cross my fingers. And, luckily, it all ended very well.

“Once in a while you just have to remind yourself that you are playing for Milan. I can sit there and be a little proud of it once in a while, but when I'm on the field, it's a workplace, like all sorts of other workplaces.”

Kjaer’s contract expires in 2022 but he hopes to sign a contract extension in the future.

“There are hopefully many years left. I'm not going to relax just yet. I'm in the place where I'd like to stay for the rest of my career. It is a goal and an ambition for me to see how long I can stay here. I'm sure that if I also play like this at the end of my contract, then I'll get it extended as well.”

Can Milan win the Serie A title this season?

“We are there, and we believe we can do it. We must work towards it. I can’t say it’s not going to happen because it’s possible but at the same time, it’s a long way until May.  I am optimistic. Winning the Serie A title would be the biggest achievement in my career.”