Fikayo Tomori says AC Milan must keep their heads as they chase what would be the club’s first ever Italian league and cup double.
Defender Tomori helped Milan rebound from goalless draws against Bologna and Torino by securing a 2-0 win over Genoa on Friday, and they sit top of Serie A for now.
A two-point lead over second-placed Inter comes with the caveat that Milan have played one more game than their city rivals, who they must tackle next in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.
That derby tie is poised at 0-0 after the first leg, with the second game coming up on Tuesday.
Milan are unbeaten in their last three games against Inter across all competitions (W1, D2), while Inter have been eliminated in each of their last four Coppa Italia semi-finals.
This is a time when players’ bodies are feeling the strain of a busy season, but Tomori says he and his team-mates have a duty to stay focused on their targets on the pitch.
“The legs are important, but now it is above all a question of the head,” Tomori told Sky Sport Italia.
“In Milan there is no pressure, but there are high expectations. We are close to the goal, but we must continue to work “
Milan last won the Serie A title in the 2010-11 season, and it was made clear early on to Tomori that the Scudetto would be the main target during his time at the club.
He arrived from Chelsea initially on loan in January 2021, before that became a permanent arrangement in June.
“I learned the word Scudetto straight away, I knew I was arriving in a strong and winning team,” Tomori said.
With the victory over Genoa, Milan kept a sixth successive clean sheet, making Stefano Pioli only the third coach in the club’s history to achieve such a feat in a single Serie A season, after Fabio Capello (twice in 1993-94: seven and nine) and Nereo Rocco (seven in 1971-72).
Asked about the upcoming Coppa Italia derby, Tomori said: “We will be ready for the match, we hope to be able to get through the round and go to the final. I hope that all the AC Milan fans will be at San Siro to give us support.”