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Ardon Jashari has insisted that AC Milan fans will soon start to see the real him, as he aims for his first trophy with the club.
During the summer window, it became obvious that Jashari was the primary target to help rebuild the midfield after Tijjani Reijnders had been sold. After yet more exhausting negotiations with Club Brugge deal was eventually struck at around €34m plus bonuses.
However, his adventure did not begin in the ideal way. A fractured fibula at the end of August left him with an estimated absence of 2-3 months, but that is now a thing of the past Jashari is eager to start repaying the investment of faith (and money) from the club.
Jashari on his injury, Modric, Allegri and more
La Gazzetta dello Sport sat down and spoke with the Swiss midfielder, sitting on the sofas of the Rossoneri’s hotel in Riyadh. The former Brugge man is expected to start tonight’s semi-final against Napoli on the bench, but hopes to play a part.
How are you feeling now?
“I feel very, very good and the injury is a thing of the past. I’ve worked hard in training over the last two months and haven’t had any problems. Not even in the friendly match during the international break [against Entella] or in the Coppa Italia against Lazio. My leg isn’t bothering me anymore and I’m happy about that.”
The injury in training on August 27th was unwelcome…
“Honestly, after a summer in which negotiations for my arrival at Milan had been lengthy, having a problem like this wasn’t ideal. I’d been working with the team for three weeks, I was growing, and I don’t think anyone in my place would have been happy.
“Bad luck… It happens in football. I wanted to be on the pitch to help the team and make the fans happy, but it wasn’t possible. But in life, everything has a reason: it means there had to be this setback on my journey here at Milan.”
Who helped you the most?
“Everyone at Milan wrote to me and made me feel important: my team-mates, the staff, the coach, the directors… The first three days were difficult from a mental point of view, but after that I had the chance to go and spend a few weeks with my family in Zug.
“With a broken bone I couldn’t train, and spending some time with my parents and friends, without forgetting to do physiotherapy, helped me: I didn’t think too much about the injury and I felt calmer.”
Then you returned to Milanello…
“Since mid-September, I’ve continued therapy with physiotherapist David, and then I’ve started exercising, first in the gym and then on the sand and pitch. Returning to the group was the final step.”
Now you are training and playing with Modric. What kind of player is Luka? What can you learn from him?
“Playing with him is incredible for everyone, not just me. I play in the same position as him and can learn a lot: he has exceptional technical skills, but also a fantastic personality, which shows in the way he approaches the players.
“At his age, those who play in his position are usually already retired, while he works every day with commitment, ambition, motivation and discipline. He has an incredible winning mentality.”
What are you learning from Rabiot, who plays as a mezzala, another role you can play?
“Rabiot has had a huge impact on the team since day one and is important for Milan. He’s got the way he reads the game and the way he plays football. You can’t imitate him because everyone has their own qualities and physical characteristics, but you can still learn something from champions like him and Modric and become more complete.”
What kind of coach is Allegri?
“The coach is important, he’s always close to us. Having someone like him gives confidence to the individuals and the locker room. He’s crucial to our success: he has experience and has worked with incredible players. I can learn a lot from someone like him.”
Did you know that Allegri was a midfielder like you?
“I know, he was a number 10 and that’s why I say he can help me a lot.”
What do you think of Napoli, tonight’s opponent?
“We shouldn’t compare the Supercoppa match to the first meeting in the league because this will be a knockout match: the winner goes to the final… In Serie A, however, there’s time to recover from a defeat.
“Everything will be different, and we’ll have to be ready. We know Napoli well: they’re strong and competitive, having won last season. We’ll need to have confidence in ourselves and show maximum commitment.”
Milan have always done well against the big teams so far…
“True, but this match defies all the odds: it will be difficult for both us and them.”
Is there a Napoli player you fear more than others?
“It’s hard to say. Napoli has quality in every department, but we shouldn’t focus on who’s the most dangerous: we need to enjoy the game, give it our all, and reach the final. That’s our goal, and to achieve it, we need to do what the coach asks of us.”
Your Milan dream came true. What’s next?
“I dreamed of being where I am, at a big club. Everyone knows how much I wanted to join AC Milan. Club Brugge had a lot of contact with other clubs, but I had clear ideas and only saw myself in the Rossoneri shirt.
“I don’t like talking about goals to achieve: I want to have fun, give my best, and help this great team I have the honor of representing. Let’s see what the future holds.”
What are the differences between Serie A and the Belgian league?
“These are two leagues that cannot be compared. In Italy, every match is difficult and hides pitfalls. To win points, you have to fight at your best, and the details are crucial: we learned this the hard way against the medium-small teams.”
Milan fans haven’t seen the real Jashari, even though that pass in the Coppa Italia against Lazio went viral…
“My fitness will return when I play regularly. I want to be at my best quickly.”
How much do you miss the Champions League?
“Well it’s the most beautiful competition in Europe. Our goal is to play it next year, and we’re working hard for that.”
They sound like Allegri’s words… and the Scudetto?
“No, it’s too early to talk about it. We’ll take it race by race and see where we end up.”
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