Thiaw admits Milan ‘expected more from this season’ and says ‘we have to learn’

AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw has admitted that the players expected to get more from this season and has pledged to learn from the mistakes for next year.

Speaking during an interview with Sky Sport Italia at the Under Armour event at Piazza Gae Aulenti in Milan (via Milan Press), the German defender, showed his ambition by saying that he and the team are not happy with second in Serie A and no trophies.

“Obviously we expected more from this season. If you play at a big club like Milan you have to always aspire for the best. We have to learn a lot from this season. There were new players in the team and we had to do better in the Europa League. Now we have to keep working and see what we can improve for next year,” Thiaw explained.

There has been a distinct lack of support at San Siro for the last two Milan matches due to a protest from the Curva Sud against the Milan management. Matches against Genoa and Cagliari have been much quieter than normal, with a lot fewer flags and banners.

This is being done due to a perceived lack of ambition and clarity from the ownership since they took charge.

Thiaw admitted that the matches have felt very different and he takes some responsibility for how the fans are feeling.

“The lack of fans made the last two games at San Siro different, but our fans love this club a lot and sometimes this can happen. There is frustration when things don’t go right, but it all stems from their love for the club and we can understand them for that. We have not achieved the goals we set ourselves, so we have to accept the message the fans have given us,” he said.

Thiaw suffered a major injury this season which means he has not kicked on in the way that many had expected.

“I can do better, it’s something I can learn from, grow mentally and physically. When things don’t go the way you want, you can always learn from it. You don’t have to beat yourself up, you have to move on and try to do better. It was my first big injury, I didn’t know how to come out of it: I thought it would be easier and instead I was out for three months. Now I’m fine. Future? I want to stay, playing in Milan is a privilege,” he said.

Olivier Giroud and Simon Kjaer are set to leave the club this summer and on that, Thiaw said: “Olivier, I will say goodbye to him with a lot of respect and affection, he is a gentleman and has always been an example for all of us. The same for Simon: he was able to give me a lot of useful advice and I thank him very much for that.”