MY ACCOUNT
Simon Kjaer is relishing being back in the knockout stages of the Champions League, as Milan aim to secure a semi-final spot.
Milan hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, having last reached the Champions League semi-finals in the 2006-07 campaign.
They have only been eliminated twice after winning the first leg of a knockout tie, though have kept a clean sheet in their last five Champions League matches, the best run by a side since Manchester City in the 2020-21 season.
The Rossoneri have beaten Napoli twice in April, though overcoming the Serie A leaders at home will be no easy task.
For Kjaer, he is revelling in having another shot at playing in the latter stages of UEFA’s flagship club competition.
“We are very happy to be here, we deserved this chance and last time we were in this stadium, it went well, so we hope to repeat it,” Kjaer said in a press conference.
“You never know when this opportunity will come around again.
“These are evenings that stay with you for the rest of your life, whether good or bad. This is why we play football.
“The other night at San Siro was one of the best experiences of my career with our fans. It will be different tomorrow, but it gives you a sensation that you cannot find anywhere else.”
Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen returned from an adductor injury on Saturday, though could not help Luciano Spalletti’s team beat Verona.
Even if Osimhen is fit to start on Tuesday, Kjaer does not hold any fear.
“We will meet Osimhen, just as we do other strikers,” he said. “It is never just the work for one defender, it is teamwork and respect.”
Stefano Pioli echoed Kjaer’s sentiment when it comes to Osimhen, who has netted 25 goals this season.
“He is such a powerful, impressive and decisive striker, so we take his characteristics into account, but at the same time we have our own way of playing football and we won’t move away from that,” said Pioli.
“We saw with previous Napoli games that a lot of it is about knowing the moment to slow down and speed up, and that is even more crucial with a player like Osimhen.”
