Tomori: “Do I want to renew? Yes and I like everything about Milan, we have the feeling that we can do something special this season, the blond hair…”

Fikayo Tomori spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport, and did not sound worried about Milan not being favorites for next season according to the bookies.

In many ways Tomori is an example of the modern Milan: he is an Englishman in Serie A, which is quite rare; he is a young starting central defender, which seemed impossible in Italy not too long ago and he is a foreigner who learned Italian in a few months, like few have been able to do; and a youngster who has fallen in love with the club and the city.

Two years ago Tomori was a Chelsea youngster with 15 appearances to his name. 24 months later, he is the symbol of a project, a Campione d’Italia and an England international.

Fik sat down for an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Luca Bianchin earlier this week:

You were one of the first to talk about the Scudetto, during the previous season…
“Yes, I knew this team was strong and we could win it. I’m glad that we did it.”

When did you know you were going to win?
“I only knew when Kessié scored the third goal against Sassuolo on the last Matchday. However, of course, we did well in many moments: against Lazio, Fiorentina, Atalanta… we told ourselves that we had to continue, every game, every minute, always fighting. And in the end, when Franck scored that goal I was so happy…”

And now, which Milan do we find?
“We are happy, but we start from 0 points like the others, not from 86 points. We will have to fight harder. We are the Champions, everyone will want to beat us.”

The bookmakers say that you are the third best, after Juventus and Inter. Does that bother you?
“Well, they said that last year too, and instead…”

But can the Scudetto be won again?
“We have confidence. We are focused on ourselves, we know we are strong. We still have a lot to prove but we won last year. Why not?”

Do you think you are even stronger?
“Yes, we feel strong considering everyone’s confidence. We have the feeling that we can do something special. We’ve done it before, but now we have a different pressure. We have to repeat ourselves. In these days we have worked harder than last year, we must be ready.”

Speaking of opponents, Lukaku is back, also from Chelsea. Is he scary?
“My first game at Milan was against Romelu and that day I had respect, not fear. It will be the same this time. Lukaku is strong, Inter are strong, but so are we. We know the Derby will be a special game.”

But how are Lukaku and Vlahović marked? Are there differences?
“Marking them 1v1 is difficult, they are strong and fast, they have quality. The most important thing with both of them is to stay focused, be attentive to every movement – when they kick the ball, when they run deep… in Italy you work differently than in England. Here we defend as a team, we move together. In England much less.”

Let’s talk a little bit about Milan. How are Adli and Origi?
“Divock is strong, he is fast and he knows how to score. He’s a good reinforcement for us. Adli is also strong, he has a good foot, and he makes the right movements. He has to learn how we play but you can see that he has quality.”

And Maignan? He talks a lot during the game, but does he say?
“Ufff… how much he talks! Mike has a great personality on the pitch, he always talks to everyone and is a great goalkeeper. We feel good with him, we are happy to have him in goal.”

Speaking of great talkers, how much did Ibra’s talks affect the Scudetto?
“Ibra has a great personality. His voice was with us even when he was not playing. He would tell us: ‘We have to be hungry like dogs, we are first but we have not done anything’. When there is a player like that in the dressing room, it increases everyone’s spirit.”

Other champions of Milan’s history – what would you like to have of Baresi, Nesta and Maldini?
“Baresi was a defender who was not too tall, a bit like me who is 185 cm. He was great in the body position, in the voice on the pitch, leadership… Maldini and Nesta had great personalities, they knew how to read the game at all times.”

Everyone at Milan says it’s time to quality for the Champions League Round of 16. Shall we choose a memory of yours as a kid of Milan in the Champions League?
“I’m a defender, I watched Nesta, Maldini, Stam, Cafu… all strong. I remember the Athens final, I remember Manchester and also Istanbul. I knew this Club is special, especially in the Champions League. We are young but now we have more experience, we want to do like them.”

And out of all these defenders, who is Tomori’s favorite?
“Well, Paolo… also because he watches us closely.”

With Maldini there would be a contract to renew, which expires in 3 years. Does Tomori want to renew?
“Yes, I like everything about Milan, also the city, the Champions League nights… but now I am focused on the field, for things off the field we’ll see…”

And Milan aside, what are the most beautiful things about Italy?
“I like the people, the passion both when we are at San Siro and away from home. I’m a tranquil type, a slow one, and Italy is like that. Milano goes at a slower pace than London, I like it a lot.”

But then has this Italian summer been the best of your life?
“Yes, the best of my life. We won the Scudetto…”

And how has that blond hair come about?
“One day, 3 months before the Scudetto, I went to Bakayoko and said: ‘Why do you always have blond hair?’. He said: ‘Boh’ [I don’t know…]. So I promised him: ‘If we win the league, I will have hair like yours.”

And if you win again in 2023 – another color?
“Let’s see, let’s see…”