Simon Kjaer reflected on the cruciate ligament rupture that derailed his season and how it felt to watch Milan win the Scudetto from the sidelines.
The 33-year-old Danish centre back started last season as one of Stefano Pioli’s first choice defenders, making 11 Serie A appearances in the first 15 matches of the season. Four minutes into a match against Genoa, he suffered the cruciate ligament rupture that forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Speaking to SportWeek, Kjaer first looked back at the injury and how his recovery went.
“I had never suffered such a serious injury before and for the first time in my career I had to face a period in which I would work alone, away from the rest of the squad. My mother told me: pretend you are a hermit, one of those who live in the forest, separated from everything and everyone.
“I felt just like that. Yes, the team stood by me, teammates wrote to me encouraging me, but in the end I was the one who had to get up at 8 a.m. every day to work until 8 p.m., therapy, re-education, alone together with the physical therapist.
“So I said to myself, if I sound like a hermit, let it be so. I will only cut my beard when I go back to work with the team.”
He commented on how it felt to watch the Rossoneri go on to win the league title from the sidelines.
“When I got injured I pulled the plug from football for four months. I didn’t even watch the matches. I was in contact with Pioli and teammates, nothing else. I didn’t go to Milanello because I had nothing to say and nothing to do.
“I came back more or less with ten games to go because I had to start doing some work with the team again and give something back to me. The guys welcomed me by giving me a shirt with my name on signed by all of them. Milan is really a family and I love everyone.
“What did the injury steal from me? I know I had a big hand in winning this Scudetto because it was the conclusion of a path of growth, technical and mental, that began two and a half years ago when I arrived at Milan. Last year I only played 11 games, but I feel the Scudetto is mine.
“We all won it together. We celebrated as champions must. I usually keep things inside, but every now and then I am able to let them out.”
Kjaer gave his thoughts on a number of his teammates and the new arrivals.
“Daniel Maldini seemed to me to have matured, more ready. I hope he can prove it at Spezia where he went on loan. The club has done well because he needs to play. On Leao and Tonali I say I want to see them this year, they are no longer boys, they have to grow enormously.
“What they did last year is no longer enough. Leao has extraordinary qualities and so he cannot afford games where he is seen little, he has to be decisive all the time. If he can make this leap, he can become one of the top five in the world.
“Then I want to see Origi. I was with him in Lille, he was a kid, now I expect a champion who makes the difference because he has everything to be one, speed, physique and feet. Bennacer also has to grow, carving out an important role for himself.”
He spoke about the player who ended up replacing him in the defence, Pierre Kalulu.
“Pierre had a fantastic season. From my point of view he is not a rival. If I do my job, if I am well, there is only one who can decide, Pioli. Then I can get angry with him, but not with Kalulu, Tomori or Gabbia because they are colleagues and one of them will be by my side on the pitch.
“I will need them, their help, so they can never be rivals. I know I will not play 45 games this year. There will be opportunities for everyone, but of course I want to play. When there is a derby I want to play.”
Finally, Kjaer looked ahead to the upcoming season and Milan’s chances of defending their Scudetto.
“Our opponents have been aggressive in the market. When there were 10 games to go, no one believed in our Scudetto. Now it becomes even harder because everyone wants to beat the Italian champions. But we can still grow.
“No one here at Milan is done yet. Even us old people, if the physical side starts to collapse, the head has to go faster.”
So much wisdom from this guy. A real man