Milan will face Torino next Monday, which Samuele Ricci's ex team. The midfielder is ready to face his former teammates, in what will be surely an emotional match for him.
"Returning to the 'Grande Torino' will definitely have a special effect on me," he said to Tuttosport. "I grew a lot there, met wonderful people, and left many friends behind. I arrived with Juric, and given the way I played at Empoli, it was a bit of a leap into the unknown. I wanted to test myself in a big environment with more competition in the squad, even though I knew I would face a completely different way of playing. I committed myself, grew physically, and focused more on the defensive phase, which his man-to-man style demanded. It’s a way of interpreting games that also requires staying super focused for the full ninety minutes."
“Last season? Zapata definitely made the difference. It’s hard to say whether our drop in performance was because he wasn’t there or because we became a bit complacent, but it’s undeniable that the team’s style of play changed. When Zapata was there, you could send the ball forward even randomly and he would hold it and bring the whole team up. Without him, the dynamics changed. Torino is a great club, but there’s a general atmosphere of discontent that has persisted for many years, even before I arrived.”
What did Samuele Ricci say about Torino's fans?
“Fans expect a lot from the team and the club, and as everyone knows, there’s a constant clash with the management. Unconsciously, players on the field feel this. Entering the stadium and constantly hearing chants against Cairo affects you a bit. At the same time, I must say that Torino is beautiful to play in and live in. The passion of the fans is incredible. I can’t say anything against them because I built a relationship with them from the start that lasted three years, and I can only thank them for that.”
Ricci on AC Milan:
"Against Milan we always won (laughs), and now that I’m on the other side, it’s an extra reason to try to change that trend. Difficulties against smaller teams? I believe they are part of our growth. Many players have changed, and the team’s identity has shifted since Allegri arrived. Becoming ruthless even in ‘normal’ matches is the step we need to take to become a real top team. It’s a matter of mentality and a challenge we must overcome."
“San Siro is not like other stadiums, and in a positive way: when you step on the pitch with enthusiasm, you feel a tremendous force pushing you. How much does having Allegri on the bench help? A lot, because we all know what he has achieved in his career. Off the pitch, Allegri gives you calm, and I think he is number one in group management. Plus, he has a very competent staff behind him.”
What are Samuele Ricci's thoughts on teammates Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot:
"In training, Allegri started trying me as a mezzala, but we often play two in midfield. It doesn’t change much because he asks us to be able to do everything and adapt to different solutions. I enjoy playing in a regista role, but even Gattuso tried me as a mezzala in the national team. Seeing Modric up close? Incredible. He does things others don’t and sees things others can’t. You can ‘borrow’ many things from him, but only up to a point because his enormous talent makes him unique, otherwise it would be too easy. His football intelligence is impressive: he always knows where the ball will go. Having him and Rabiot on the field gives you confidence. At Milanello, they are also two wonderful guys."
On the Scudetto title:
"No, the focus now must be on finding consistency, then returning Milan to the Champions League, and after that… we’ll see."
Who was Samuele Ricci's childhood idol?
"Ronaldinho, even if he isn’t very similar to my role," said the Italian midfielder. "As a child, I played as a wide attacker, then Zauli in the Primavera moved me to this position. The toughest opponent I’ve faced? Sergej Milinkovic-Savic."
