Ante Rebic said he “wants to leave a mark” at Milan and has revealed that “the situation is certainly not what we expected” when he arrived before the season.
The Croatia international came on to score a brace against Udinese and helped Milan climb to eight in Serie A.
They are not where they want to be, but the 26-year-old winger has confessed they are “slowly improving” and argued that “it will take time”.
Ante Rebic said he “wants to leave a mark” at Milan and has revealed that “the situation is certainly not what we expected” when he arrived before the season.
The Croatia international came on to score a brace against Udinese and helped Milan climb to eight in Serie A.
They are not where they want to be, but the 26-year-old winger has confessed they are “slowly improving” and argued that “it will take time”.
“The situation is certainly not what we expected before the season, but things are slowly improving with time,” he told Sportske Novosti. “The team are young and have quality, so it will take time before we’re at our best.
“We are working very well, I am optimistic. We have signed some experienced players with quality this winter and they can help us a lot.
“[Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, [Asmir] Begovic, [Simon] Kjaer… after all, the results are already visible. In our last four games, we have done well and we’re in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.”
The Swedish superstar Ibrahimovic returned to Milan this winter and Rebic has claimed “all of us feel better with him” on the team.
“Ibrahimovic is one of the best strikers in the history of football,” he said. “He is definitely a reinforcement for Milan, who will benefit from his experience and quality on the field.
“Furthermore, all of us feel better with him and we will be able to improve. Ibra has a positive character and he brings us a winning mentality to the dressing room. He and I talk a lot, he is a nice guy and he often helps the younger players with advice.
“It’s an honour to play with him”.
Rebic also added that the director Zvonimir Boban “is very important” to the players at the Rossoneri and said it’s not a coincidence that he’s at Milan.
“I usually talk to him [Boban] after the games and he’s always there to help. He believes in us players and that’s very important to us.
“By the way, I tell you, I’m not a pure striker or a real nine. I have never been a leading goalscorer, but I was regularly one of the most important players on the team at Eintracht [Frankfurt] and in the national team.
“Personally, I think I have certain qualities that are always welcome in any team and that can help my teammates do better. After all, I’m not in such a big club by accident.”
Rebic was signed on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt with an option to buy last summer and has struggled to make an impact.
His brace during the 3-2 win against Udinese was his first two goals in nine games and even if he “definitely will return to Frankfurt one day”, the winger has claimed he has patience.
“I made many sacrifices during my career, to come to a club like Milan,” he said. “I have achieved this goal and now I want to leave a mark here.
“I want to do something that I will be remembered for. I believe in myself and I know that I can be useful. I would definitely return to Frankfurt one day, but first I have a lot to do here.
“I am a professional and I do my tasks with the utmost dedication and I want to give my best. The professionalism also requires patience. While it’s difficult for players to wait, nothing else can be done.
“It is up to the coach to decide who he will play. I think I did well in the last game, I scored two important goals. I also played very well in the cup. The coach has seen it and is convinced that he can count on me.”