Okafor: “It wasn’t our best game but we are on the right path, we are a team and I have to be ready in every match” | OneFootball

Tijjani Reijnders and Noah Okafor celebrating during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Noah Okafor has stated he’s “always ready to help the team when the coach needs it” after another impactful performance off the bench.

Okafor came off the bench in the 60′ minute last night against Club Brugge in the Champions League, taking the spot of Rafael Leão on the left wing of the attack.

Less than a minute later, he made a great run on the flank and assisted Tijjani Reijnders’ first of the night with a great pass. Milan won the game 3-1 thanks to a Christian Pulisic goal and 2 Reijnders goals, but it was mostly thanks to the impact of Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze off the bench.

“I’m really happy for the 3 points, and for me I’m always proud when I can help the team on the pitch, and give everything for the team and for the fans, for the coach and everyone,” Okafor told MilanTV. “So yes, today I’m really happy to have assisted Tijjani. I told him when I go 1v1 to just go into the box and the ball will come and today was a good assist and we have to keep going like this, train hard every day and look forward.

“The first two games we had zero points but today we wanted to do everything for the 3 points and we did it. So, this is a good step in a good direction. Now we have to take it game by game and like I said before – work hard, take it game by game and analyze the game and we have to do things better for sure, and then we’ll see what happens in the next games.”

Noah Okafor during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (@acmilan.com)

Speaking to Sky Italia, the Swiss said: “The victory was absolutely important, we had to the 3 points and I’m very happy to have come on and helped the team with an assist. Now we know that for the next matches we have to improve, taking one match at a time and working every day.

How difficult is it to come on and be ready straight away?“It’s not always easy to get to the intensity of the match right away, but the key is to be fit, train hard and be ready when the opportunity arises.”

How difficult is it to play in the same role as Leão?“I can play as a winger on the left, on the right but also as a center forward or as one of the two strikers. I don’t look at where I play, we are a team and I have to be ready in every match and if the coach needs me then I’m here.”

Milan players celebrating during Milan-Club Brugge at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Noah also spoke in the mixed-zone: “We are happy with the 3 points. It wasn’t our best game, but we are on the right path. We have to work hard, improve a lot and be ready for the next days.”

You came onto the pitch with lots of energy…“I am always ready to help the team when the coach needs it. I’m very happy for the assists to Reijnders but I’m especially happy for the three points.”

Thoughts on Camarda?“He is a really good guy, I told him to stay calm. He is very strong; he must stay focused and work hard.”

Now it will be difficult for the coach to bench you in the next game…“As I said, I’m always ready if the coach needs me. He is the one who decides the starting line-up, I always give my all in training and I’m always ready.”