Ex AC Milan winger, Suso, spoke about the derby from nine years ago where he delivered one of his best performances in Rossoneri colours.
Here's what he said:
Is that derby from nine years ago still the match of your life?
“Yes, Milan is the team where I was happiest. It was my first derby as a starter and the atmosphere was special. And I had made that promise," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If I score a brace, I’ll walk home." Did you keep that promise?
“No, Inter equalized in stoppage time, I would have gone only if we had won…”
Curiosity: playing a derby in front of 70,000 people, do you feel fear? Suso commented:
"No, fear no, it’s a feeling of happiness because you are part of something you watched on TV as a child. You’re proud to have made it."
Ever had direct contacts with Inter to play for them?
"I remember perfectly. I could have left by paying a release clause and Inter wanted to pay it. Spalletti called me and we spoke on the phone. The fact that Inter wanted me was a pride but I was a Milan player. I said no: it would not have been right for what I had experienced in Milan."
But things ended badly at Milan…
"There was a period that was not good in terms of results. Milan had hired Pioli and in December 2019 we lost 5-0 to Atalanta. Pioli shortly after left me out of the lineup and I thought he didn’t want me to feel important. I stopped playing and the team kept winning, football works like that sometimes. I felt it was the right moment to close that chapter."
And today’s Milan?
"I like it. When I watch Serie A, I watch Milan. They will fight for the title, like Inter. Allegri, whether the team plays well or badly, is a fantastic coach."
And this derby? Suso answered:
"Impossible to reason. A derby is different from everything, even if it were first against last, you cannot predict it. Adrenaline rules."
Anyone still keeping in touch?
"Leao just sent me a message. Back then he was very young, shy, a really good boy. With those long legs in training, no one could stop him. Now he can do whatever he wants, he has everything to be one of the best. The problem is that today football has much more physical players, fast players. He has the physique but people expect a lot."
A big topic remains: Gattuso.
"I think he is the right man for Italy: tactically good, manages the group well, has charisma. For me he’s perfect."
Choosing a coach among those you’ve had in your career? Suso said:
"I owe everything to Montella. He told me ‘stay here and we’ll do great things’. Then Gattuso, he was not a friend exactly, but someone who understood everything in the locker room. Luis Enrique, number one for tactics and reading games. And Lopetegui because I won a Europa League with him."
One phrase comes to mind. Gazzetta interview in 2018: "I’ll never be a coach." Confirmed?
“No, I changed my mind a bit. I think I wouldn’t be a bad coach, though it’s a hard job: coaches work all day. I like teams that build from the back, that was my culture. I’d be a bit like Fabregas, who I think will be very good.”
How much playing career remains?
"I don’t know, I play for Cádiz, I’m at home: I wanted to return to help the team back to La Liga. Sooner or later I’ll speak about joining the technical staff but I don’t know if I’ll play one, two, or three more years."
As captain, by the way. Position still the same? Suso replied:
“Yes, I play right winger or attacking midfielder.”
Let’s finish with the right-wing ranking. Take ten strong wingers of this century: Robben, Suso, Saka, Salah, Figo, Beckham, Messi, Raphinha, Di Maria, Yamal. Rank them first to tenth?
"Hey, these are strong… I’ll come last. Fine: 1 Messi, 2 Salah, 3 Robben, 4 Di Maria, 5 Figo, 6 Saka, 7 Yamal, 8 Raphinha, 9 Beckham, 10 Suso."
