Biglia reveals why he struggled at Milan and previews Lazio game: “A lot of pressure” | OneFootball

Lucas Biglia believes that the problems at AC Milan are higher up than the squad itself, something he also experienced in his time with the club.

The then 31-year-old Biglia was signed for a hefty amount as part of a big summer spending spree in 2017, more specifically €20m, and this raised the expectations among the Milan fans that he might be the missing link in midfield.

However, due to a combination of injuries and general poor form he never managed to replicate the levels he had hit at Lazio, where he established himself as one of the best registas in the league and potentially around Europe.

He was allowed to leave when his deal expires and admitted to crying when he was let go. Now, he is the head coach of the Under 17 Elite side for US Aldini, one of the main amateur clubs in Milan for which his son Alessio is registered. Tonight the former midfielder will probably be at San Siro.

Biglia conducted an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that was published on the day of the game, and he previewed the clash between his two former clubs.

Let’s start with your memories at Lazio…

“They were my best years in Italy. I came from Anderlecht and in Rome I got along very well with Petkovic, Reja, Pioli and Inzaghi. I also had Pioli at Milan, but only in the last year.”

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In the capital you came close to winning…

“Unfortunately, however, we didn’t succeed. We lost the Coppa Italia final twice and the Supercoppa Italiana once, both in the final against Juventus: we had a good team and I even wore the captain’s armband.”

Do you like Baroni’s football?

“Coming after Inzaghi and Sarri is not easy, but he was good at transmitting proactive football, even at the cost of taking risks. He has elements in his squad that did not find space in other clubs and he was good at relaunching them.”

Rovella is a key player in build-up. Does he remind you of yourself?

“Rovella is more dynamic than me, he has great quality, playing time and the ability to find spaces to receive. He is proving to be worthy of the national team.”

Your compatriot Castellanos, on the other hand, leads the way with goals…

“His absence at San Siro will be heavy because he is having a good season and deserved to be called up to the national team. Taty is a striker who can hurt you at any moment.”

At Milan you got less satisfaction than at Lazio…

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to show what I wanted because the club had made a significant investment in me. The second year started well, but I had an injury that kept me out for 4 months. I feel indebted to Milan.”

What didn’t work?

“When I arrived, the club was owned by Chinese people. The Berlusconi era had just ended and… we couldn’t understand anything. In the second year with Elliott and Leonardo-Maldini as directors, things improved and the process continued when Boban and then Massara were there.

“Even though I was no longer there, the Scudetto and reaching the Champions League semi-finals were the logical consequence of things done well. The players need support.”

Did you expect Milan to be in such a crisis?

“Given the quality of the squad, no. In football it’s not just what you do on the pitch that counts: the results are also influenced by the work of the club. And at Milan many are not performing as they could and not only through their own fault.”

Among them Leao, Theo and Maignan – protagonists of the 2021-22 Scudetto – have been so far very disappointing. You had them as teammates in 2019-20…

“They are three champions, but everyone expects too much from them. In the careers of footballers there are negative moments and it happens that things don’t go in the right direction for a thousand reasons.”

What kind of match will Milan-Lazio be?

“The Rossoneri are coming off a difficult period and have not managed to get consistent results. Given the standings, Milan will have a lot of pressure, but Conceiçao is good and is not used to giving up. Lazio, on the other hand, have had a more regular path and are psychologically better.”