Calabria: “Having the same team, the same coach and the same game ideas is a plus”

By Oliver Fisher -

Defender Davide Calabria has reflected on what is a positive current moment for AC Milan ‘both mentally and physically’.

Milan went into the summer with the right-back spot being seemingly the position that needed addressing most urgently, but after Serie A opener against Bologna it could be that it’s no longer a cause for concern.

Pioli seems ready to put his faith in Primavera product Calabria as Pierre Kalulu continues to settle and Andrea Conti remains out injured.

The 23-year-old repaid that faith with a superb performance against the Rossoblu at San Siro in which he both defended and attacked like the Calabria of old that we saw under Gattuso.

Calabria was interviewed by Milan TV about the current moment after his positive run of form, and his words were transcribed by MilanNews.

“Individuals can make a difference, we have important individuals in this team,” he said.

“Then of course it also depends on the mental state of the group, at the moment we are in total confidence, we are sure of what we do, we are convinced which is not a foregone conclusion.

“We are in a positive moment both mentally and physically and the field is giving us the results we are looking for and that we want, and therefore there is a succession of positive things that are only good for the team and for the club.”

On Alexis Saelemaekers: “From behind we can see the whole field, there are many young guys who do as well as Alexis but who come from a foreign league and it is not easy to do well immediately as he did.

“It’s not so obvious, maybe you didn’t start from the beginning, during the week he didn’t experience certain movements and therefore the coach asked me to give advice on the movements that are fundamental for the side.”

On the competition provided by Davide Calabria: “There cannot be 11 owners but there must be 20-25. So that’s right, especially for a team that must have high ambitions like Milan. It can be good for everyone, it’s just a stimulus to always improve during the week.”

On Thursday’s game against Bodo/Glimt: “I think there are no easy games in Europe, looking at all the games that have played in past years, especially in Italy, they have all had difficulties. 

“We have everything to lose but if we put the same competitive nastiness that we are having in this period a team like Milan cannot be afraid of facing all the other teams in the world. The ambition must be to win, whether it is the strongest team in the world or the smallest.

“Having the same team, the same coach and the same game ideas is a plus. We are focused on this, I think the important thing is to continue to have the intensity we have and to know how to move on the pitch: these are the most important things, then the rest comes by itself.

“Right now we have to think only of ourselves, it is still too early to talk about direct competitors so we have to think about doing well and continue to do as we have done from 2020 onwards. The coach tells us that the 2020 classification sees us second.

“This thing is giving us a lot of motivation because to do so well in such a long period means that the qualities are there. We just have to demonstrate them throughout the year for the whole year.”

Tags AC Milan Davide Calabria
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