After struggling a lot for form throughout the 2019-20 season, the Davide Calabria of this season is almost unrecognisable, as he is a player reborn.
As MilanNews writes, a year ago the stadiums were packed with fans, the Curva Sud were there, Marco Giampaolo’s 111-day Milan project had ended terribly and the choice of Stefano Pioli as a substitute did not satisfy.
The players struggled and there was no consistency, and the enterprising Calabria seen at times under the management of Rino Gattuso seemed like a distant memory. The Primavera graduate was heavily criticised as he struggled a lot defensively, with obvious confidence problems.
A season like that could have been disastrous for his career given his age, but Calabria has used the criticism he received as a stimulus, managing to overturn the negative situation and come back stronger.
“Last year I had moments of personal difficulty, I didn’t get too much help but I didn’t even look for it. I tried not to be influenced by the rumours, a 22/23 boy can go through a period of fogging, the team was not doing well and also on a personal level it suffers,” he said in an interview with StarCasino.
“I also thought if it was the right path at that moment, I convinced myself that I shouldn’t give up. You have to give up and go your own way. Nobody gave me anything and I got out. It is a mental shot that as a player you must have if you want to stay at certain levels.
“I’m feeding on the pressure, I’m very happy with my post lockdown path, as well as that of the team. And obviously Mr. Pioli was also fundamental.”
Calabria’s excellent performances have almost become a normality, as he – along with Alexis Saelemaekers – gives Milan so much stability on the right.
After the victory in the derby against Inter, against Napoli and against Fiorentina, Calabria made his debut with Italy and reached 100 appearances in Serie A with the Rossoneri shirt.
He is in a moment of impeccable physical and mental form, and long may it continue.
One of my favorite player in team, grande davide