Alexis Saelemaekers has recently given an interview to La Derniére Heure and these were his words:
"It's not a single man that makes a difference. I was lucky to be in the right circumstances at the right time."
"It's true that hardly anyone knew me initially. I'm glad I was able to show people what I'm capable of. I'm happy with what I'm doing."
"I chose the word 'dream'. I wanted everything that happened but you can't control everything. For me, everything went right in the best possible way. I am living a dream. I worked hard to get there."
"Maldini's compliments? In a club like this you have to show that you love the shirt. My way to do it is to run as much as possible. Sometimes I have to rest because I'm so cooked but I give my best, every time."
"When I play 90 minutes I have 12 kilometers covered, of which 800 meters at very high intensity. They are good numbers."
On the nickname "Salamandra": "Initially they chose this nickname because it is what they meant by my name, difficult to pronounce for an Italian:" Salamandra ". They had not yet seen me running but it turned out that they had chosen the right animal : I run everywhere and I'm not easy to catch." (laughs)
On muscle problems: “I had some physical problems and sometimes I had to play without being 100% fit. In Italy, technologies are at the forefront of recovery. Cryotherapy machines help the body a lot after a great effort. And then there is the invisible recovery that Jean-François Lenvain (Saelemaeker's personal coach) often talks about."
"Pioli's favourite? You should ask him. However, I feel a real trust between us. We talk to each other a lot. After the matches, he shows me what I did well and what I did less well. It's nice to have a coach like him, so close to players. he gives me confidence on the pitch."
On Pioli's transfer to Anderlecht in the past:"Yes, he told me about it. It was in the Van Holsbeeck era, he told me. He was contacted, but in the end it was Weiler who got the job."
On the Scudetto: "We are focused on everyday life, without looking too far ahead. We aim to do the best possible."
On the relationship with the fans: "It is difficult to create a bond, but I regularly meet supporters on the street. I am always very open and we talk. It is proof that I do a good job on the pitch. I like having this contact with people. They are happy to talk about the club. I explain to them what is happening. Now I have a good gras on Italian language, it's easier."
On integration at Milan: "I am also fortunate to have my agent Jean-Marc (Schellens) who is often with me. We can discuss many things together and he brings me his thoughts on certain situations in the club. Not all players they have this possibility when they come to a new country. "
On Lokonga: "Receiving the armband at Anderlecht helped him a lot. He takes more and more responsibility. We've known his qualities for a long time but he needed time to establish himself. What he's doing. I have already put his name a couple of times (smiles). It would be wonderful if he could come here. The bond with him would be back. Albert has the qualities to go to the biggest clubs in the world."
"I work every day to be good at Milan. If the coach likes it and sees something he likes about my game, I'll be very happy."
On Ibrahimovic: "Sometimes it's a bit offensive (laughs). We are a team that is not used to being at the top of the table in recent years. Having someone who knows all of this is important. If they yell, it means they are there. a reason. Shut up and listen to him. He's a legend and he knows what he's talking about."
On the 2021 goals: "I want to become a more consistent player. Great players are the ones who manage to be stronger from game to game. I want to show that I can be a top player."
On integration at Milan: "I am also fortunate to have my agent Jean-Marc who is often with me. We can discuss many things together and he brings me his thoughts on certain situations in the club. Not all players have this possibility when they come to a new country."
Complimenti bravo continua cosi!!ottimo lavoro Grazie!!