Ruben Loftus-Cheek reflects on his progress in Italy with the renowned Serie A club, AC Milan.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has expressed his belief that his game has significantly improved since joining AC Milan. The English midfielder, who made the move from Chelsea last summer, has settled into Stefano Pioli’s side and has been impressed by the team-oriented nature of Italian football.

Loftus-Cheek, who has formed a partnership with fellow England international Fikayo Tomori, feels that Italian football places less emphasis on individual talent and more on playing as a cohesive unit. As Milan currently sit nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan, Loftus-Cheek and his teammates are preparing for their upcoming home game against Roma.

Speaking ahead of the match, Loftus-Cheek reflected on his first six months in Italy, stating, “It’s a very tough league, I’ve felt in the first six months here. The teams, they’re all tactically good. It’s so hard to break teams down, it’s like a chess game. You have to work so much more as a team in Italy, which has improved my game a lot and my learning.”

The 27-year-old, who still harbors hopes of making Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, heads into the fixture with confidence after scoring in Milan’s recent 3-0 victory over Empoli. He expressed his happiness playing in Italy and his desire to continue improving and learning about the game.

Loftus-Cheek also praised the coaching staff at Milan, describing them as “fantastic people” who are always willing to help him improve. He expressed his gratitude for being in such a positive environment.

Sunday’s match against Roma presents an opportunity for Loftus-Cheek to face his former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho. Roma have struggled in recent weeks, recording only one victory in their last five Serie A matches. Loftus-Cheek stated that he thrives in games against top sides and hopes that Milan can continue their unbeaten run, which includes five wins in their last six matches.

Reflecting on Milan’s season so far, Loftus-Cheek acknowledged that the team experienced a dip in form but believes they have started to play better football in recent games. He also mentioned that he had been dealing with an ongoing injury problem but hopes that his condition continues to improve.

As Milan aim to maintain their positive form, Loftus-Cheek emphasized the importance of taking each game as it comes and seeing where it leads them. He expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, stating, “We’re a top team – but we have to take it game by game and see where that takes us.”