AC Milan defender Pierre Kalulu is expecting a ‘difficult’ game against Spurs tonight and believes that ‘concentration will make the difference’.
Milan will be looking to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 11 years but they face a difficult task against Tottenham who will be backed by over 60,000 fans.
Kalulu spoke to Prime Video ahead of tonight’s match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and his comments were relayed by Calciomercato.com.
“The Champions League always makes children’s eyes shine. And we approached the matches in the best possible way. I expect a difficult game in London. We know that one goal is needed more than the other. Concentration will make the difference,” he said.
The Rossoneri rearguard did an excellent job in the first leg of keeping Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski quiet en route to a 1-0 victory thanks to Brahim Diaz’s early goal, but Kalulu admitted he does not expect to get headlines for defensive performances.
“Between us we know that the role of defender is a bit thankless. You can play a great game, you can make a mistake once and it’s like you make a mistake for the whole game. At these levels you just have to prove that you are someone who can help win. I can concede goals, but I can be decisive. This is what makes the difference.
“Many strong defenders have passed through Milan. I try to see everyone and take the best of everyone to be the most complete player possible. I know that I can do more than what I am doing. I’m on the right track.”
When he first arrived at Milan there was some confusion over what Kalulu’s best role would be and he was initially used as a right-back before switching to centre-back part way through last season, and now occupies the spot on the right of the three-man defence.
“I was in training and played as a right and left full-back. Then [Pioli] arrived and he said to me: can you also play central left? At that moment I was too hungry to say I couldn’t. I thought: put me on the pitch and let’s see what we can do. The truth is, I was ready to give my all and prove that I was strong.”
On Pioli as a person, he added: “He’s always interested in who we are off the pitch. Because that’s what also makes us the players we are. When we arrive he asks how it’s going, how’s the family, where have you been.”
