Cristian Zapata is looking forward to the derby and admitted he was exhausted after beating Chievo.
Zapata made his seasonal debut on Thursday against Olympiacos after dealing with injuries over the last few months and today (Sunday) against Chievo he was again put in the starting XI as Alessio Romagnoli was unable to play.
“I am dead tired [laughs], but I am happy for helping my team,” Zapata told MilanTV after the 3-1 win. “I always work to help my teammates and to get some playing time as it happened today. I always make myself available to the coach.
“Experience is always needed and I want to play a great campaign with these teammates. The derby [which will take place on October 21st at San Siro]? How can I forget that goal [the 2-2 equalizer in April 2017]! We have a few days more to prepare for this game but I am already thrilled.”
Speaking in the mixed-zone, the 32-year-old Colombian added: “I hope to be decisive again in the derby. We have to work in these days and wait for the national team players. There is motivation for this match. The defense [Zapata and Kessié made the mistake which led to Chievo’s goal]? It’s annoying to concede goals, we have to improve in this and take a step forward in every game.”
Zapata is Milan’s fourth choice center back for this season after Romagnoli, Mateo Musacchio and Mattia Caldara, who is still recovering from an injury and could be back after the international break.
I hope we have a complete squad without injuries and whoever starts at the back and whoever scores i hope for the 3 points. And if you Zapata will score this time the winning goal, that would be a wonderfull accomplishment 😀
A solid back up for the back up, I always had faith on this guy, strong, not slow at all and a good tackler can’t remember how many time he has saved our ass, yes he smoke something before the games sometimes but he is a good defender.
Zapata is clumsier than disney’s goofy but he suse is fast and can head the ball well. A nice back up player who never makes a scene. Well done zapata.
*arnold to stewardess after just killing his enemy in the backseat of a plane
“Please dont disturb my friend, he’s DEAD tired” – commando
Man i love ‘80’s action movies, especially the bad puns