Emanuelson eager to kick-start AC Milan career

Urby Emanuelson has vowed to prove his worth at AC Milan after impressing in pre-season for the Italian side.

The 26-year-old, who signed for Milan in January 2011, has been in scintillating form for the Rossoneri and scored the winning goals in the friendly victories against Schalke and Chelsea.

After an indifferent start to life at the Italian club, Emanuelson is now brimming with confidence, and he hopes that he will finally be able to silence his critics in the coming season.

"My two goals? These are just friendlies, but I am satisfied," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The club told me that the project is to rejuvenate the squad and that they counted on me for the future.

"I waited for my moment to come and I know that this is my chance. I feel the trust of coach Massimiliano Allegri and of my team-mates.

"I am a different player now, who believes more in himself and who wants to play a bigger role in matches.

"I feel I belong to Milan now. It is a great feeling."

Milan's preparations for 2012-13 have been disrupted by the sale of highly-rated duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, but Emanuelson insists rival clubs should underestimate them at their peril.

"Milan are giving a good response to those who criticised the club," the Dutchman noted. "This is a difficult time as Thiago and Ibra are no longer here, and there is nothing we can do.

"Everyone said we were much weaker, but we want to prove that is not true. We are still competitive, even though Thiago and Ibra are no longer here.

"Juve, Inter and the other Scudetto contenders must know that Milan are not dead. We are still alive and we can compete with them.

"We believe in our strength, and perhaps some players will arrive to bolster the squad."

The Rossoneri are locked in talks with Real Madrid about re-signing Kaka, and Emanuelson feels the Brazilian would be a massive coup for the team.

"I would really like to play alongside him," the former Ajax player said. "He is part of Milan's history.

"He is the kind of player that we need: young players follow him."