The AC Milan striker, Alvaro Morata, has spoken exclusively to the microphones of The Athletic.
Here are his words about the anticipated match between Real Madrid and the Rossoneri tomorrow:
Milan and Madrid have won 22 Champions League combined. Do they have the same aura?
"Completely. That’s exactly what it’s like. Before coming to Milan everybody told me the air you breathe here is different. It’s enough to come and eat in the restaurant here at Milanello. You look around and see all the players who have won things for Milan. For me, Milan has always played an important in football history."
On being a fan of Ricardo Kakà growing up, Morata said:
"My sister gave me Kaka’s jersey as a present. I remember his goal against Manchester United (in 2007). I remember the boots Kaka had; everything about him. Milan fought for the Champions League in that era and I remember the games."
Can Milan, Champions League semi-finalists the season before last, get back to the competitiveness of two decades ago?
"In football you never know. Last year, Borussia Dortmund weren’t doing well in the league or in general. They reached the Champions League final and who knows if the shot (Niclas Fullkrug made) had gone in and not hit the post (at 0-0) maybe Borussia are champions of Europe now. That’s the beauty of the Champions League. Every year teams that nobody expects are there or thereabouts.”
Morata added:
"We have to believe. We’re AC Milan and we have to aim to win everything. If you lose against a top side it’s because it is the Champions League, but we’re obliged to think we can do it. If you don’t get there, you don’t get there — but we have to think it’s possible."
On the journey so far at Milan, the former Real Madrid and Chelsea striker said:
" think we’re finding more mechanisms. We’re doing things more naturally now. We’ve got several new players (five), a new coach. But the time to adapt is up, we have to do it right away."
On Rafael Leao:
"Rafa has talent," said Morata. "He’s the best player on the team and just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. It’s only a phase and, often, it’s like that for attacking players. A big goal or an easy one will be enough for him to get his confidence back. It’s not easy. Everything Rafa does is a story, but he’s so important for us and we need him. He knows that perfectly well. He’s working hard and it’s just a phase. His time will come this season and he’ll make us win."
On the pressure when playing for big clubs and at the San Siro:
"It’s normal. As you say, they’re all the best teams in the world. It’s normal to have pressure playing at San Siro, playing in the Champions League, and every time you pull on a shirt like this. Every game brings responsibility. It’s more a privilege (than a burden). Many players would give anything to play for these teams and I’ve been fortunate enough to play for lots of them at the highest level. I’m very happy about that."
Morata on people doubting him in the past:
"Yes, lots (of people).I had to read that I wasn’t good enough to be captain, that we weren’t a good team, that it wasn’t possible to win the Euros. It wasn’t a vendetta, because at the end of the day I don’t have to prove myself to anyone — but it was great. Films and documentaries are coming out (about the Euros) and the people will get to see what we did. England and France (who Spain eliminated in the semi-final in Munich) have top sides but I think we were the best because of the team spirit we have. I think we won for that reason."
On succeeding:
"To me, success in life isn’t winning a Euro, a World Cup, a Champions League or scoring 600 goals. The biggest success you can have is when all the people you get to spend your days with — the people you work with — get to really know you. You’ll never find a team-mate, a mate, or a person who I’ve spoken to and opened up with who doesn’t say I’m a good person — and that’s the most important thing to me. The hidden side to me is that I try to help everyone. I like making other people feel good and people will come to realise that’s why I became captain and did a good job at it, because I made the others give their best. When you don’t worry about yourself but the people around you it’s a very beautiful thing."
Amid the scepticism Spain faced going into the Euros, Morata stood up for his companions. He felt there was a lack of appreciation for the talent in the squad:
"Before the tournament, I did an interview with a Spanish media outlet. I got a bit pissed off because they said to me, ‘Spain doesn’t have a world class player. They don’t have a star’. I replied, ‘For me Merino is a star, Fabian (Ruiz) is a star, (Dani) Olmo is a star. All of them’. The players I mentioned were the best players at the Euros. They made us win. From that moment onwards everything changed. They were guys who weren’t appreciated in Spain. It’s a shame we had to win the Euros to make everyone realise how good the players we have in Spain are. That’s what it was like.”
On his countryman Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or recently:
"I expected and hoped (he’d win the Ballon d’Or). Today, it’s a big success for Spain to have Rodri on the pitch in the same way it was with Sergio Busquets before him. Busquets deserved a Ballon d’Or as well. Players like them don’t stand out like a striker or a winger, but they control Spain’s play. They’re the architects of our play. We’ve had so many quality players in these positions like Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas. All these guys. Now Olmo and Fabian drive the team too. They take command, manage games. They don’t lose the ball and they win it back. They’re two fenomeni.”
Players come under enough strain as it is — both mental and physical, particularly as competitions like the Champions League and domestic Super Cups expand (so they can be hosted in Saudi). New competitions keep getting added too, such as the Nations League final four and upcoming Club World Cup. Morata replied:
"There’s no time to switch off. With all the games we have, we can’t take four or five days to switch off."
On the importance of mental health for players:
"We don’t have time. Often, like this year, when the summer started I’d had maybe two or three free days because I was either rehabbing an injury, on international duty, or playing away from home. You spend five or six hours at the training ground then do interviews, press commitments, sponsorship engagements. Lots of things. It isn’t all what it seems on social media. It’s a responsibility and you can take it well or not."
Football has little balance...
"We have to be ready to go from heaven to hell in a split second, on account of a chance, or a few centimetres. At times those centimetres can be the difference between making history and not. Imagine if Olmo wasn’t on the line at the Euros (when he made a heroic clearance to stop England’s Marc Guehi equalising and sending the final to extra-time). Small details like that can change your life and your career. Everything can change, so you have to be ready for all situations and prepare yourself mentally."
Milan overcame Monza 1-0 at the weekend and are now preparing for Madrid. As someone who came through at Real and won everything with them only to later identify with Atleti, things are never easy when Morata goes back to the Bernabeu...
"In the end I think it’ll be the same. I don’t think things have changed a lot. But I’m aware of it and I expect to be whistled and everything. It’s normal."
