On Saturday, July 16, 2022, at 7 p.m., the Italian champions AC Milan will be guests at the RheinEnergieSTADION. One FC pro who has faced the Rossoneri twice during his time in Serie A is defender Jeff Chabot. In an interview, the left footer talks about his time in Italy, the games against Milan and the upcoming duel on Saturday.
Jeff, after moving to FC in January, preparations for the new season are in full swing and you’ve recently returned from training camp. What is your conclusion for the time in Donaueschingen?
Jeff Chabot: “It was a good time, we trained well. We pushed hard on the pitch, so we can look back on the training camp in Donaueschingen with a positive feeling. It’s nice to have been with the boys for so long. We trained together, lived under the same roof and spent a lot of time together. That brings us together and is also a lot of fun.”
What is the most important thing?
“The main focus was that we get back to basic fitness. After the summer vacation you need something to get back to 100 percent. We did a few training sessions for that. We are on a good way.”
How important is the training camp for newcomers or young players?
“Time is extremely important for integration because you spend a lot of time together and learn a lot about each other.”
You played against AC Milan twice during your time at Sampdoria Genoa. Your two appearances were each away at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. How would you describe the atmosphere there?
“Once I was allowed to play in front of a full hut, the other game took place behind closed doors because of the corona pandemic. The San Siro is a traditional stadium, some finals have already been played there. It’s always nice to run up there. It is something very special for every player to play at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.”
In the duels with Milan you played against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among others. What was it like defending against such a caliber?
“AC Milan is a team with world-class players in their ranks. It’s nice to be on the pitch against players like that. Of course you have a certain respect, but during the game you can turn it off. You can learn a lot from such players.”
You played 44 times in Serie A. What differences do you see between the Bundesliga and Serie A?
“In Italy, there may be a little more focus on the defensive. In Germany it is often up and down. In my opinion, Serie A is a bit more tactical than the Bundesliga.”
After eleven years, Milan became champions again. How do you rate the Rossoneri’s title win?
“Personally, I didn’t expect AC to become champions. Of course I assumed that they would play at the top. Before the season I thought Inter would win the title. AC have a young team with a lot of quality. I am assuming that they will continue to build on this success in the years to come.”
What do you expect for a match on Saturday?
“We want to implement the coach’s instructions and play our game. It’s nice to have such a duel in preparation. This will be a real endurance test for us. We want to present ourselves properly and hope that everyone stays healthy.
–
