Fullkrug relishing ‘dream’ assist for first Milan goal: ‘100 per cent happy’

Niclas Fullkrug thanks Alexis Saelemaekers for a ‘dream’ assist on his debut Milan goal in the 1-0 win over Lecce. ‘You need that trust as a striker, I am 100 per cent happy.’

The Rossoneri have struggled against the relegation-threatened teams recently, and risked fumbling more points after their draws with Genoa and Fiorentina.

It seemed for a while as if Wladimiro Falcone would parry everything coming his way at San Siro, but he was eventually beaten by substitute Niclas Fullkrug’s glancing header on an Alexis Saelemaekers volleyed cross.

The German had only been on the pitch for three minutes, and it was his first goal in the Milan jersey since the transfer from West Ham United.

He had been urging Max Allegri’s assistant Marco Landucci to put him on early for the corner, so did he feel this was going to be his night?

“I wanted to come on, of course, I was ready and waiting to come on finally and it was a good moment to change because we were attack, attack, attack,” Fullkrug told DAZN Italia.

“Finally, I got an incredible assist from Ale, and it’s a dream for a striker to get an assist like this!”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Milan 1-0 Lecce

It hasn’t been all plain sailing for the centre-forward in Italy, as Repubblica newspaper reported his hotel safe was broken into, with €500,000 of jewellery stolen.

“Incredibly good, I am very thankful and grateful to be here and to get that trust, you need that as a striker. The team welcomed me very well, it is a great atmosphere. That is why I am 100 per cent happy, nothing else,” he assured.

Fullkrug becomes the third German to score for Milan in Serie A, after Oliver Bierhoff and Christian Ziege.

“I try to do my best for the team and the best ball for our strikers, I’m very happy with the assist,” Saelemaekers told DAZN Italia.

“Obviously, we know what an incredible striker Fullkrug is, he proved it in the past, and having someone with these characteristics in the squad is very important for us.”

However, the Belgian went off in the final minutes with a muscular issue.

“I felt a twinge in my adductor and I didn’t want to run any risks, so it is better that someone comes on who is at 100 per cent and can work hard for the team near the end of the game.”

This result means that Milan are the only team keeping up with leaders Inter, maintaining the gap at three points.

Looking over their shoulders, they also take advantage of other slip-ups to go seven points clear of Juventus in fifth, so consolidate that Champions League spot.