Mike Maignan is excited for the ‘new challenges’ as an ever-changing Milan prepare for the coming 2023-24 season.
The Rossoneri have been in a state of flux in recent weeks, starting with the club’s decision to dismiss technical director Paolo Maldini after a short meeting last month.
The boat was rocked further when Milan allowed Newcastle to open talks for Sandro Tonali, which eventually lead to a deal worth around €80m total, further infuriating the fanbase. Concerns are now high ahead of the new season.
Speaking to Sportweek via MilanNews, Maignan was first asked if he was worried about the coming campaign.
“Never worried. There will be new challenges, new tests. That’s what I love.”
He touched on his unconventional goalkeeping style.
“For me it is important to go beyond my role, my role is not limited to the penalty area, I talk a lot with my teammates to predict the opponent’s moves.
“I have always had this mentality because I assume that it is beneficial for the team. If I play a good game but the team loses, I will never be satisfied.”
The Frenchman remembered how he didn’t want to be a goalkeeper when he was younger.
“I was a striker or number 10, I didn’t want to be in goal. I ended up there by accident and as a kid I was alternating. When I was 10-12 years old, I took tests at Clairefontaine, the French national football academy.
“The coach who accompanied me to the audition issued me with a challenge: ‘If you make it to the last round of selection, you will remain a goalkeeper’.
“Fortunately or unfortunately that is what happened. At the time, I was being followed by PSG and that convinced me to stay in goal, but I kept the desire to play further and be part of the game.”
Maignan spoke about the atmosphere at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“Every time I step onto the pitch it’s magic. The whole stadium, all the Rossoneri fans behind me. And then the context of some matches makes it even more special.”
He recalled two of his favourite matches during his time with Milan.
“At home against Fiorentina, we were close to the Scudetto. The fans escorted the bus, the enthusiasm was incredible, I felt the whole stadium pushing behind me, it gave us wings, we felt invincible.
“The first leg against Napoli in this season’s Champions League, you could feel that Milan is the Champions League, and that San Siro lives for those moments. It’s like entering a gladiator arena. We are galvanised by the spectators and ready to fight.”
Finally, Maignan remembered his childhood idol.
“As a child I watched Edwin Van der Sar. But I soon became convinced that I had to be my own role model.”