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Milan striker Niang 'working to become better than Henry'
Having left the Rossoneri on loan after scoring exactly zero league goals in his first spell at the club - which included being pulled over by the police and telling them he was Bakaye Traore - Niang has turned over a new leaf in the past few months, enjoying a prolific spell at the Marassi last season, scoring five times and helping Genoa overtake bitter rivals Sampdoria by season's end.
Though he's yet to score for Milan in Serie A action, Niang recently spoke to the Italian press about his time on the sidelines, as well as tomorrow's game.
“It’s not a decisive game, we’re sixth and they’re behind us. There’s a lot to go," Niang told La Stampa.
What did he make of Max Allegri (who now coaches Juventus) and his eventual successor, Sinisa Mihajlovic?
“Allegri gave me my first big break and allowed me to experience the best moment of my career, namely playing against Barcelona. Mihajlovic has brought the same feeling, he wanted me when he was at Sampdoria and when he came I immediately knew he could take me places."
Mbaye was candid both about his chances of making the Rossoneri team on any given Sunday (“Those who deserve it get to play, the formation has nothing to do with it”) and about his past.
“Maybe I wasn’t erady for a big team. My loan spells were helpful. Would I impersonate Traore again? No, but it’s not the only thing I wouldn’t do again, the other was leaving the French team’s training complex. That one cost me dear, but you have to learn from your mistakes”.
Niang seems positive about where Milan are going (“Now we concede less goals, we control che ball and score more”.) and both his and Mario Balotelli's futures.
“Mario needs to make the most of this moment to think about his situation. Everyone will forget about him, so he can work in peace and quiet and come back better than before.
"I know what it’s like to be out of the loop, when you don’t play those fifty calls a day go with the playing time, and you can focus more on yourself and what you have to do”.
Having been compared to Thierry Henry, what did he make of his chances of ever emulating the Arsenal legend?
“He’s a great champion, I’m working to become better than him.”
Good luck with that!
