Mike Maignan admits he supported Liverpool as a kid and praises ‘decisive’ Stefano Pioli and Milan fans.
The France international has entered his second season at San Siro after winning the title last term and being named the Best Goalkeeper in Serie A for 2021-22.
“I expected to win the title, the first thing that I told club directors was that I wanted to bring Milan back to their level,” he told DAZN as quoted by PianetaMilan.
“The coach [Pioli] always talks to us to transmit his desire and trust. During the break in the Milan derby, he spoke to all of us to make us feel his trust,” the goalkeeper said referring to the latest derby della Madonnina in Serie A won 2-1 by the Rossoneri thanks to a brace of Olivier Giroud.
“We have the best fans in Italy, they gave us so much strength, I remember the away game against Lazio when the stadium was almost all ours. We were sure to win [the title] in Reggio Emilia because of the strength they transmitted to us.”
Maignan trained with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG, when the Swede was the main star of the Ligue 1 giants while Mike had been promoted from the youth teams.
“I remember my first year in the senior team with Zlatan. Once he was doing a shooting practice and kicked a power shot to challenge me,” the goalkeeper said.
“I managed to save it and at the end of the training session, inside the dressing room, he told me that he liked my mentality and to keep it up. Eight years later, we are here together.”
Who was his idol as a kid?
“The player I watched the most was Steven Gerrard because I was a Liverpool fan and I liked him so much.”
Maignan has replaced Gigio Donnarumma between the sticks at Milan but has never felt the pressure of picking up the baton from the Italy international who had been named Player Of The Tournament at UEFA Euro 2020.
“I didn’t feel the pressure last season, comparisons to Donnarumma were inevitable, but nothing changed,” Maignan admitted.
“Before every game, I isolate myself, people talk too much, and I don’t want to feel pressure from them. I help myself with music and close myself to my world.”
Maignan’s contract at San Siro runs out in June 2026. He has kept 20 clean sheets in 42 games with the Rossoneri, including one in the opening three Serie A matches this season. Last summer, he joined the Rossoneri in a €14m deal from Lille.
yes.
Maignan was makes us forgot Donuruma, becouse he cover hi m place atimes Maignan is very experiencae gold keeper
May Allison Becker have a long and happy career at Anfield then.
@DB Milan, I agree with you on that and may Pep Guardiola also not see him