Charles De Ketelaere granted an interview to those at DAZN to discuss his first few days so far at Milan.
Here are his words:
"It took some time to get here and that's why the tension was building, but now I'm happy to be here. Only when I signed the contract and had the shirt in my hands did I say to myself: 'Ok, now I'm a Milan player!' and I felt really happy."
On the Rossoneri project:
"It wasn't words that convinced me but what this club is doing. They are returning to the top again, we all see how much the young people improve here, and as they grow up they make the whole team grow. They won the Scudetto, so it's a great team to mature in, if you're a young player."
In your first training sessions, who impressed you the most?
"Clearly everyone's level is higher than in Bruges: for example the technical quality of Leao, the finishing of Giroud, All these things. I hope to get to this level as quickly as possible."
Who did you face first at Milanello?
"I played against Kjaer, in 11 vs 11 I was facing him."
Stefano Pioli said that Divock Origi described you to him as 'half Kai Havertz Half Kakà'...
"Maybe he compared me to Kaká because he played in Milan, or because of his position on the pitch. As for Havertz I think we are not similar, but he is also tall, he is a forward or attacking midfielder and he is left-footed. In this we are alike. But I prefer to say that I am just myself and in every match I want to show who I am."
De Ketelaere on his first discussion with Stefano Pioli:
"efore signing, I spoke with Pioli, so I already knew a little what he wants. A couple of days ago, he showed me with the video staff with the style of play he expects of me. I liked it a lot and saw myself in that kind of football."
On his role:
"The one they call attacking midfielder, but I can play other roles. But this is the role I need to focus on right away. But it's the style of play that I like (on the one seen in the video)go deep, have freedom around the front. I can't wait to express myself in that position."
Do you watch highlight videos of other players to learn their moves?
"Yes, especially if I have to change roles every now and then I watch videos of who plays in that position to learn and memorize the movements. But it's not like I watch football videos every day, I do it a few times before matches."
For example, when you had to play as a striker, who did you study?
"I've watched videos of the best strikers in the world like Lewandowski, Benzema… And I forget many others."
What about the playmakers?
"I have always liked De Bruyne very much, he is one of the best players in Belgium. In my role he is the best, so I look at how he plays."
What scares you in your life and career?
"I consider myself a humble and calm boy but I really believe in myself, and therefore there is nothing or nobody that scares me."
De Ketelaere on his dream:
"I think the most important thing is to win the Champions League, that's my dream. But now I'm at Milan, I think it's easier to win it here than in Bruges (laughs), so I hope to win it sooner or later."
