The Dutch midfielder praised Chukwueze and Okafor's impact from the bench
The Rossoneri secured their first Champions League victory of the season with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Club Brugge, and midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has praised coach Paulo Fonseca’s impactful substitutions for turning the tide.
AC Milan triumph over Club Brugge
Despite Christian Pulisic's early goal and the visitors going down to ten men after Raphael Onyedika’s red card, Brugge managed to equalse, forcing Milan to rely on second-half energy to seal the win.
After Brugge's equaliser early in the second half, AC Milan fought back to get on top thanks to a brace from Reijnders.
The Dutch midfielder scored twice in quick succession to guarantee the Rossoneri a 3-1 win over Club Brugge.
Both of Reijnders’ goals were assisted by substitutes Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze, leading the Rossoneri star to praise his teammates’ impact off the bench.
Reijnders believes substitutes changed the game
Speaking after the game, Reijnders acknowledged the importance of the substitutions made by coach Paulo Fonseca.
"We lacked intensity in the first half," Reijnders explained after the match, adding, "The substitutions brought new energy, and we woke up after their equaliser. It’s important to recognise the impact they had on the game.
"Everyone has to be a leader in their own way and contribute to the team. The players who came on changed the game, and that’s crucial for us,"
The victory pushes Milan up in their Champions League group standings after their first win of the campaign, and with Chukwueze and Okafor proving their worth, the Rossoneri will look to build on this momentum in future matches.