AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie has granted a long exclusive interview to SportWeek. Here are his statements:
On his childhood:
"As a child I cheered Milan and was crazy about Shevchenko. Milan was also my team at the Playstation. It was easy to cheer for them: in those days they won everything. When I wore the Rossoneri shirt for the first time, I didn't believe it. I thought I should have sweated for that shirt, because I was also a fan of Milan. That's what I try to do every game. Playing the Champions League with Milan would be great. "
On his leadership:
"If I have something to say to a teammate I don't do it in front of everyone because I don't know how he can react. I take him aside and explain to him. In a match it's more difficult, so it can happen that he screams. someone walks I say: “Come on, let's run, we have to win!” In the youth teams of my national team, the Ivory Coast, I've always been the captain. I'm used to being the first to put my face on it, on and off the pitch. I talk to everyone, starting with the youngest: Hauge, Daniel Maldini ... Even with those of the Primavera who sometimes train with us, like Mionic."
On the feeling with Bennacer:
"We both speak French. It also happens with the others that I express myself in the same language: only afterwards it occurs to me that they do not understand me. Then I try to find the corresponding word in Italian ... In the locker room, the older ones speak mostly, Ibra and Kjaer. Them and the captain, Romagnoli ".
On the link with Calhanoglu:
"We arrived together in the same summer four years ago. I go to his house, he comes to mine. We resemble each other in character. When we have the day off we are almost always together: we went to restaurants when we could, shopping at the Duomo ... But I also go to Bennacer, Meite, Leao, Saelemaekers' ... ".
On Leao:
"I talk to him. He has almost everything. He is very strong, he has quality, dribbles, sometimes he scores. I tell him to stay focused, to always maintain the same level of attention in the game."
On the contract expiring in 2022:
"Now I am focused on the work that we have to finish and that must bring us to the Champions League. At the end of the season we will speak with the club."
On the relationship with Pioli:
"When a new coach arrives he brings his ideas and asks you for new things compared to before. It is normal that you struggle at first. But we talked and talked, I worked hard on myself to understand how to give him what he wanted. And in the end I succeeded."
On Milan:
"To make great Milan back, it lacks continuity in results. The great teams are never satisfied, they want to win all the games. This must be our mentality. We know that it is not possible to always win, but we must try. But we are already a great team".
