AC Milan defender Pierre Kalulu has revealed that he has never really felt the pressure even in the most intense situations, highlight the areas he has grown and the impact of Paolo Maldini.
It is sometimes forgotten that Kalulu has been on one of the more memorable journeys of any current member of the Milan squad, given that he joined the club from Lyon having not made a single senior appearance in professional football.
Fast forwarding a couple of years from that and he was an established starter at a Milan side that would go on to end their Scudetto drought and were playing in the Champions League, all while still in his early 20s.
Kalulu gave an interview to 11 magazine in which he spoke about his time at Milan from his arrival to today, with his comments relayed by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
On joining Milan: “When I arrived at Milan, not only had I never played as a professional but I hadn’t played football for a long time ever because there was the pandemic. I haven’t been on the field since March. I didn’t think about the pressure or being underpaid. I just said: finally I can go back to playing football!”
On the areas he has grown “In everything. I’m stronger, faster, freer, things come more naturally to me. Where can I still grow? In everything! (laughs). I can be even more assertive, especially in dogfights, and I can always read games better. This makes the difference at a high level”
On the role he prefers: “To be perfect you have to know how to play everywhere, it helps you a lot: if you want to be a regular in a big club you have to be able to help the team where it is needed.”
On the Sassuolo game that won the Scudetto: “To be honest, we weren’t afraid before Sassuolo-Milan. There was a bit of that usual adrenaline, the one you get before every game, but we knew we worked well during the week and throughout the season and we were calm. There was no more tension than usual.”
On the three-man defence: “It certainly helps you to stay more covered, to defend better.”
On Maldini: “He helped me more to understand how much football matters in Italy.”
Your man marking inside the box is the worst of all our options, poor positioning, lacks concentration, easilly carried away following the ball everywhere, excellent with a high line, the way you start counter attacks is one of the best for a cb, speed is your strength, as long as its high up the pitch, you are a guarantee, when deep inside our box, you are a liability, big potential still, I believe you will be one of the best cbs, you were my favourite player 2021/22 forza pierrinho