AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer says the club will use the hurt of last season’s Uefa Champions League semi-final exit to fuel their bid to go all the way this campaign.
The Serie A side, seven-time European Cup winners, reached the last four of the 2022/23 tournament, but were beaten 3-0 on aggregate in May by city rivals Inter Milan.
Milan, who qualified for last season’s Champions League by winning a first Scudetto in 11 years the previous year, last lifted Europe’s premier club trophy in 2007.
This season, Milan sit third in an incredibly tight Group F with two matches remaining, one point off second-placed Paris Saint-Germain and two back from leaders Borussia Dortmund. Newcastle United, meanwhile, lie bottom, although only three points off the summit.
Milan round off the group against Dortmund, at home on November 29, and Newcastle, away, two weeks later.
Speaking on Monday in Dubai at an event to mark the opening of Casa Milan Dubai, the club’s new base in the emirate, Bennacer told The National: “First, you play to win the Champions League, not playing just to be in the Champions League.
“Then, when you have the taste of the Champions League semi-final, you want to go higher, to do better. And that’s why we will try this year.
“Because as I said, we’re not just here to be here in the group and that’s it, or quarter-final and that’s it. No, we want to win it. But, as we saw, a lot of teams will have a chance to win it.”
Bennacer, 25, has not featured for Milan this season following surgery on a knee injury sustained early in the first leg of the semi-final with Inter, on May 10.
The Algeria international has been an integral component of Stefano Pioli’s team since moving to San Siro from Empoli in 2019, helping Milan finish runners-up in Serie A in his second season. He then played a pivotal role in Milan's title success the following year.
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Lautaro Martinez scores for Inter Milan during the Champions League semi-final second leg at the San Siro on May 16, 2023. Inter won 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. Getty Images -
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez celebrates scoring their first goal with Joaquin Correa. Reuters -
Lautaro Martinez celebrates his goal with the Inter fans. Getty Images -
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud consoles teammate Rafael Leao after he missed a chance. Getty Images -
Lautaro Martinez celebrates with teammate Nicolo Barella after scoring the team's first goal. Getty Images -
Rafael Leao of AC Milan shoots narrowly wide against Inter Milan. Getty Images -
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez celebrates his opener. AP -
Lautaro Martinez of Inter celebrates with teammate Romelu Lukaku. Getty Images -
Inter keeper Andre Onana celebrates after Lautaro Martinez's goal. Getty Images -
Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez scores their first goal, Reuters -
Olivier Giroud of AC Milan after and Rafael Leao, right, misses a chance. Getty Images -
Inter keeper Andre Onana jumps for the ball with Olivier Giroud of AC Milan. Getty Images -
AC Milan's Olivier Giroud, left, pleads with referee Clement Turpin. AP -
AC Milan's Sandro Tonali, right, is challenged by Inter's Nicolo Barella. AP -
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan jumps for the ball under pressure. AFP -
AC Milan's Theo Hernandez, right, shoots from distance. AP -
AC Milan's manager Stefano Pioli on the touchline. AP -
Inter Milan's Henrikh Mkhitaryan leaves the pitch after sustaining an injury. Reuters -
Referee Clement Turpin talks to Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez. AFP -
Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries is challenged by AC Milan's Theo Hernandez. AP
Bennacer said on Monday that he expected to return to action midway through next month.
Asked about the frustration of his lengthy spell on the sidelines, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner said: “That’s hard. When you have this type of injury, and at this moment as well, because that was one of the most important games of my life.
“But it’s OK, when you see positive things day by day, you work, you have some [programme] to come back, you see there’s some steps. I was not working for two months, and then after you are doing the bike, then running, then more.
“As I said, you have to see the positive things; I spent time more with my family, with myself as well. I’m not happy [to be injured], but it’s OK.
“Everything is going well, and I don’t feel anything on my knee. There’s been no reaction as well.”
Bennacer said he could use the frustration as motivation to return to top form and help Milan’s quest for silverware this season.
“When you’re playing for AC Milan, you want to win every year,” he said. “And also everything, even though it’s hard. This year we have a very, very good team, very good players, new arrivals.
“All the time we are making a team. It will take time a little bit, but we will be OK.”
Last week, Milan rebounded from a run of four matches without a win – three of which were losses – with a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory at home in the Champions League to PSG.
And, though at the weekend they slipped eight points behind Serie A leaders Juventus having surrendered a 2-0 lead at Lecce to draw 2-2, midfielder Yacine Adli believes the PSG result can still spark Milan’s season.
“Last week was a really important game,” said Adli, sitting alongside Bennacer. “We made a very good game in a crazy atmosphere, and we were very happy.
“We struggled a little bit in Serie A these last months, but we know the way is long in the Champions League and in Serie A [Milan are third in the table after 12 matches]. So we will try to keep working and do more every day to reach our goals.
“It’s not easy every day. But it’s our job. We have to do it and we will do it because, like I said, we are in such a big club and we need to do it for the club, for the fans and for us also.”
