AC Milan defender Davide Calabria has said that new signing Charles De Ketelaere ‘doesn’t lack talent’ and remarked on the physical strength of Divock Origi.
Speaking during a press conference (via Milan News) ahead of the Champions League group stage match against RB Salzburg which takes place on Thursday night, Calabria discussed how some of the new players have settled in at the club.
He said that it has impressed him how much they all wish to prove themselves and then he picked out specific attributes about a Belgian duo.
“One thing that impressed me about everyone is the desire to prove themselves: I saw guys who are mature and ready. Good guys on the outside and willing to learn.
“De Ketelaere certainly doesn’t lack talent, he’s good with the ball and is important without the ball. I didn’t think Origi had that kind of physical strength, he’s really strong and I think he’ll be able to give us a big hand during the season.”
Milan had a very tough time in the Champions League last season as they finished at the bottom of the group. On paper, their group of Chelsea, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb is easier than the one that had Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and FC Porto in.
“Last year I think it was one of the most difficult rounds in the history of the Champions League, from a game point of view we had a good round.
“Playing at this level makes you grow, I see a more mature team. This level that there is here you struggle to find in Italy, the pace is much higher. It’s always good to play these games but we are ready. I can’t wait for tomorrow at 9pm.”
On the matches in the Champions League last season: “For sure it has helped us a lot, especially the matches against Liverpool and Porto made us understand the intensity that there is in this competition.
“The pace is much higher than in Italy and we acquired what we needed to improve from last year.”
On how close Milan are to having success in the Champions League: “I think it will still take some time. It’s a very long way, there are teams that are much more ready than us, especially economically: you also need that power here.
“We will do our best to face this competition. We are Milan, one day we will aim to win: this year we look at match by match and we don’t set ourselves any limits. I hope that one day I can do what Paolo [Maldini] did, that’s what we want to achieve.”
The silent hero, my favorite Milan player, always humble and always works his socks off in every match, not flashy but extremely industrious
And is difficult to get past too – he makes it look so easy when he steals the ball from the opponent’s feet.
He does it all really. Defends well, always there to support the attack, can sometimes deliver good crosses (not too often though), is a leader, gets assists and even can score every now and then. And is consistent. He never plays two bad games in a row.
Are you referring to this same Calabria or the one of mid last season?
@JOHN THE BAPTIST
He was reffering to the Calabria you baptised in River jordan
Yep. That’s the one. The one in the river.
You clearly know nothing about football.