AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has modestly downplayed the significance of his blistering start to life at the San Siro .
Piatek, 23, joined the Rossoneri in January and has made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals in six matches across all competitions.
How has Piatek fared in Milan? Five key things to know…
- Signed by Genoa from Cracovia last summer, the Pole scored 19 goals in 21 matches, prompting Milan to make a move.
- The 23-year-old joined Milan for a reported £30.9m last month, replacing Gonzalo Higuain, and has excelled in his short tenure.
- He has scored in five consecutive matches, including two braces.
- His goals have helped climb Gennaro Gattuso’s men into the top four.
- Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more Serie A goals this season (19) than Piatek (18).
The Polish marksman is hoping his goalscoring form can help Milan re-establish themselves as a powerful force in Italian football, bringing an end to their barren silverware drought, having not clinched a trophy in eight years.
However, at the same time he played down the hype building following his move.
“If I had all the qualities that the newspapers are talking about, I’d be the best player in history,” Piatek said in an interview with Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy.
“I hope that Milan will return to greatness thanks to me and that one day I will be really worthy of those comparisons.
“In my opinion, certain newspapers are exaggerated. I take only a part of those praises. I’m satisfied with the goals, not the fact that thanks to them I am on the front covers.”
Piatek only relocated to the San Siro last month, but the two-time Poland international has already built up a strong rapport with his teammates and he highlighted the importance of another January arrival as to why he has so far flourished.
He added: “I especially like those with whom I sit at the table during meals, that is [Hakan] Calhanoglu, [Tiemoue] Bakayoko, [Lucas] Paqueta, [Franck] Kessie, [Ricardo] Rodriguez and [Fabio] Borini, we have created a real team, Paqueta knows how I want the ball, and he has great technical skills.”
Piatek was on the scoresheet again when his side put three past Empoli in the Friday night Serie A fixture, taking the club to within a point of their bitter rivals Inter.
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Patient Piatek
Having left the comforts of his homeland for pastures new last summer, some may have felt that at 22 the striker stayed in the Ekstraklasa league for far too long, but Piatek believes he left Poland at the right time.
Genoa snapped him up from Cracovia after he netted 21 goals in 38 matches across all competitions last season, and at £4m it was effectively a no-brainer for the Grifone, who have now reaped the rewards of their recruitment policy.
The lethal finisher immediately wowed the Stadio Luigi Ferraris with his poacher’s instinct, bursting onto the scene with 13 league goals and promptly alerting Europe’s heavy-hitters with his fine form, and Piatek accredits this impact to his patience in Poland.
He said: “I left Poland when I was ready for all these challenges from every point of view: physical, mental, technical. I could have done it before, but I preferred to stay for a year longer and I absolutely do not regret it.”
The post Piatek plays down media praise after storming AC Milan start appeared first on Squawka News.
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