Alexis Saelemaekers has spoken out about various aspects of his past with AC Milan, including the influence from some key figures.
Saelemaekers is preparing for a World Cup where he hopes to be a key player with Belgium. In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, the winger spoke openly, revealing his emotions from his early days to the challenges and fears of not returning after facing various setbacks.
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The former Anderlecht player emphasised the importance of people like Paolo Maldini, Stefano Pioli, Thiago Motta and Olivier Giroud in his journey, as well as his family, who instilled in him a humility that contrasts with the image that is seen on the pitch. His words were relayed by Calciomercato.com.
How important was Alex Stéphan Debring?
“This person is very important to me. He was there from my first team and accompanied me when I was a child, in my first training sessions and my first matches. Obviously today I’m very grateful to him, because it’s thanks to people like him that I’ve gotten this far and become the player I am today.”
What was your upbringing like in Belgium?
“Belgium is a country that, despite the generally very cold weather, is truly warm. The people are very close to their families; they help each other a lot. It’s my home country, so I’m very attached to it, and it’s always a pleasure to return to see my family and friends.
“Furthermore, in my opinion, it has some very beautiful monuments to visit. I’m from Brussels, so I can tell you about that in particular, and it’s a very beautiful city that I think is worth a visit.”
Do your parents drive from Belgium to Milan every fortnight?
“My parents do this, especially my father, because my poor mother doesn’t have a driver’s license and just has to drive him. My father likes to come by car; he always says it’s more comfortable, he leaves whenever he wants and enjoys the scenery along the way.
“They both enjoy it. Because of these things, they’ve remained very humble, and I try to inherit this humility from them, because it’s a beautiful thing, even in the world of football. I think it’s important to stay humble, and they help me a lot with that.”
Do you change on the pitch?
“I’m a little sad because sometimes people have a distorted image of me, given that on the pitch I’m totally different from my real life, off the pitch. I’m a person who gives so much to the people I love, I’m very respectful, and, as I said, thanks to my parents, I’m also very humble.
“It’s true that in football it’s hard to find people like that, because when you become famous and start earning a bit of money, it’s hard to stay true to yourself and the person you were as a child. There’s this difference that those who know me well really notice.
“To those who think I’m arrogant, I’d just like to say: come meet me off the pitch, let’s have dinner together, and you’ll definitely change your mind.”
Is all that money at a young age quite daunting?
“Yes, this is a part that people don’t know, but it’s very difficult. You start getting fame and money very young, around 18, an age when you’re not fully mature yet, you’re not a man yet. You don’t really understand what all that money is or what it means to have that fame, so it’s difficult to handle.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a very humble family who always keeps me grounded and knows how to quickly get me back on track when I’m going off track. This is a great fortune for me. Sometimes there are players who don’t have this support, and it’s much more difficult for them.
“They make mistakes that then help them mature, but the problem is that sometimes these mistakes make you fall completely. That’s the difficult thing about this job.”
What was it like playing alongside Olivier Giroud?
“Olivier Giroud was very important. We bonded so much, I was lucky enough to spend the holidays with him, to meet his family and his children. We have a very close relationship and he arrived at a time in my life when it was essential for me to have support, especially because I arrived in Milan very young and without my family, who remained in Belgium.
“Having someone with his experience helping me and giving me advice every day was a huge factor in my personal growth. I’m very grateful for everything he’s done for me, as you already know. We’ve remained truly great friends.”
Did you find it tough at the beginning at Milan?
“I’ll tell you the truth, the first two or three months I asked myself: ‘What am I doing here? Why did I come?’ Anderlecht is a very good team in Belgium, but it’s not comparable to Serie A.
“In training before, you’d sometimes make bad passes or technical errors and that was fine. Here I realised that a bad pass can cost you defeat, so it’s not acceptable. It was tough at first because I was very young and didn’t understand the level of demands Milan placed on me.
“Then, little by little, you understand your responsibilities in a team like that and you adapt to the group’s level. At that point, you’re freer, your moves come out better, and your talent emerges.
I was very grateful to Paolo Maldini and coach Stefano Pioli, who gave me so much time to grow, knowing I needed it. And then, the move from Brussels to Milan… the city is very different.
“If I had to choose to move to Milan, I would do it a thousand times over. Today, Milano and Milan are like home to me, I’m very proud to be part of this project.
“The trust of important people at a club means everything. When you have people like Stefano Pioli and Paolo Maldini who give you the time you need, you make the difference, and that’s what made me the player I am today.”
Then at Bologna you met Thiago Motta…
“At Bologna, I was also fortunate to find Thiago Motta, who understood my situation. I arrived there expecting to make a difference right away, but then you play with top-level Serie A players and you realise that if you don’t work 100%, you can’t achieve what you want.
“Even then, receiving the right words from a coach like Thiago Motta – who has enormous experience in football and knows what he’s talking about – gives you the peace of mind to regain your composure and rebuild your path step by step.
“It’s normal for Italian fans to have high expectations of the national team, but sometimes you have to give the players time to grow together, to have a stable project and regain confidence.
“All the players are at the level to play in the World Cup, but sometimes, when things aren’t going well, you need time to build a stable foundation without rushing, otherwise the results won’t last. I hope for their sake that they’ll be there at the next international competition.”
Have you ever been afraid, maybe at night, that you wouldn’t be able to get back to your normal level?
“Many, many times. Many, many times. Having people around you who love you and who know what to say to you in that precise moment – because in football there are so many moments of doubt – I made it.
“I’m a very confident person, and I know I got here thanks to my work and a certain amount of talent, but above all, work. The difficult thing in football is that sometimes you do everything to the max, 100%, and yet the plays don’t come out. It’s something you can’t explain.
“This year I also talked about it with Adrien Rabiot and other players at a time when I wasn’t doing a bit well: ‘I’m doing everything I have to do 100%, on and off the pitch, but I can’t seem to get anything right’.
“In those cases, the words of experienced people reassure you that the moment will come, that you have to stay calm and keep things simple. Having the right people around you makes all the difference.”
You have played many different roles…
“So: right back, left back… I’m just missing centre-back! I played goalkeeper as a kid, but not as a professional, let’s just say it’s worth it! Then I played midfielder, box-to-box, attacking midfielder, right winger, left winger, and even striker at Anderlecht.
“I wasn’t scoring, and then they moved me to the wing, realising right away it was better! But yes, I’ve played almost every position. On the one hand, it’s positive, because a coach knows he can always count on you.
“On the other hand, however, it’s difficult because by changing positions so often, you can’t get used to a fixed role and find automatic patterns. I’ve been playing for many years now.
“This year, having spent the entire season on the right, I feel much better because I’ve understood in which part of the pitch I can make certain plays and where I can’t. This helps you grow.
“Before, I was constantly being changed positions and sometimes it was difficult to perform at 100%. The positive thing is that, wherever the coach puts you, he knows you’ll do well.”
What did your want to be when you were little?
“I really wanted to be a veterinarian; it was my childhood dream: first a soccer player, then a veterinarian. I was a gymnast, because my dad was one, so he passed this passion on to me…
“(Noise is heard in the background) My friend Rafa (Leão) is pushing… he’s always making a mess, Rafa! (To Leão) Why do you always have to make a mess? What is it? (Hands him a glass) No, thanks, I’m fine.”
