Reijnders: Milan’s start ‘difficult’ to explain, the substitutions ‘changed the game’ | OneFootball

Tijjani Reijnders was the hero of the night that saw Milan win their first Champions League match this season and the midfielder praised coach Paulo Fonseca’s substitutions, as he believes the players who came on after the break ‘brought new energy’.

Despite Christian Pulisic’s opener and a red card to Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika, the match remained in balance as the visitors scored the equaliser early in the second half, forcing Reijnders to step up with a much-needed brace that allowed the Rossoneri to eventually see off the Belgian outfit.

Reijnders: Milan ‘woke up’ after Brugge’s goal thanks to substitutions

“I was dreaming, I was waiting for these first Champions League goals,” Reijnders told Sky Sport after the match, as quoted by TMW.

“I was waiting for one and I got two, even better. In the first half we played too slowly, then we woke up after their equaliser in the second half.

“It’s difficult to say at this moment [why Milan started slowly], we’ll have to watch the game again and analyse it, for sure.

“We can’t concede a goal in numerical superiority, this must not happen again.”

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 22: Rafael Leao of AC Milan leaves the field after substitution during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between AC Milan and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Dutch midfielder’s first goal was assisted by Noah Okafor, while the second was set up by Samuel Chukwueze. Both came on as substitutes, the former replacing Rafael Leao, who was subbed off shortly in the second half after remaining on the bench for 90 minutes against Udinese.

Reijnders insisted that while the Milan group has ‘many leaders’, Fonseca’s substitutions proved decisive today to ‘change the game’.

“We lacked this [intensity] in the first half, the substitutions brought new energy,” the midfielder added.

“There are many leaders in our group, everyone has to be one in his way. Everyone has to give his contribution, those who came on changed the game and this is important to us.”