Milan’s new number 9, Niclas Füllkrug, gave an exclusive interview to DAZN. Here are his words.
What are the first thoughts that come to mind when you think of Milan?
"Great players. I think of players like Ronaldinho, Beckham, Pirlo, Gattuso, Kaká. Ronaldo. Those players. Zlatan too. I always watched Milan play in Champions League finals. It’s simply a great club, with a special badge and a heavy shirt, but I like that."
You know there is a sort of curse surrounding the number 9 shirt here?
"I don’t want to know anything about those things. For me, the number 9 means scoring goals. I don’t want to change my mindset because of this. Honestly, I don’t care much about what people think of me. I’ve been walking around for years with a gap between my teeth, so I don’t really care what others think about my decisions. And I also have a strong connection with the number 9 because I wore it with the national team and throughout all the youth teams. So now I’m very happy to be wearing it again."
Do you know any Italian words? Fullrkug replied:
"I can already say a few things, but obviously it’s just light conversation, like ‘How are you?’, ‘All good’, ‘My name is Niklas’, things like that. ‘Where are you from?’. But for me the most important thing is that I have an Italian coach and I need to understand him as quickly as possible, because all the meetings are in Italian and I have to understand what’s being said. Most of the time I do understand. It’s a nice challenge for me. Beyond the football challenge, learning a new language and thinking in a new language is, in my opinion, very useful for the brain. And yes, I want to learn it as quickly as possible.”
What is Allegri like off the pitch?
"He’s always somewhere in the middle. He’s very direct, and I appreciate that. He’s very direct with the whole group. But he always has a joke ready, and you never really know when he’s joking, he could do it at any moment. He always has a smile, and I like that. He’s always positive and knows how to manage people. I think that’s one of his main strengths. He knows how to manage players, great players, and people. And I think that’s also why he’s had so much success."
You spoke with Bierhoff. Can you tell us what he said to you?
“No, I never tell stories about what a manager says, because that stays between us. He jokes, he’s direct, critical, he does his job as a manager, and I think he does it very well.”
Was the 2003 Champions League final the moment you fell in love with Milan?
“To be honest, I don’t want to act like a fanatic or say I’ve always loved Milan. But when I go back to that moment, I think I was nine or ten years old. We were on a training camp with my youth team, a small club, and we were watching the Champions League final between Milan and Juventus. I don’t know why, but I wanted Milan to win. And then they did. There were so many great players, beautiful to watch. And over the years I’ve always watched Champions League finals, not only Milan’s but all teams, because I love watching football. But I can say Milan has always been in my mind as a very big club I would have liked to play for. And now I’m in this situation, and it makes me very proud and very grateful."
What do you like to do off the pitch?
"I’m a very calm person. I have my wife and my daughter with me. I like to enjoy time with them. Nothing complicated, mostly recovering and being together, doing things for my daughter, doing family things. Nothing too interesting to say, to be honest (laughs).”
How is your relationship with Italian food?
“I love cooking, my wife cooks very well. I’ve already tried many things, and the food at Milanello is incredible. I’ll enjoy it, in a healthy way.”
Do you have any promises to make to the fans? Fullkrug said:
“At big clubs there is always pressure, but for me it’s always been like that, and you can look at all my interviews. Not because I’m at Milan, it’s always been this way. I think the best thing is to focus on what I can change right now. I always work in the present, I try to keep discipline in the moment, and I think if we all do the same, we’ll have a very positive season. I’ve joined a very positive group, with a lot of positive energy and a winning mentality. There’s not much to change. We keep going like this. Maybe there are still a few aspects we can work on. Now I’m here as a new striker, trying to help at the right moment, and I think we can do even better than in the first half of the season, which was already close to being very good. Not perfect, but very good, near the top of the table. We also have to win these kinds of matches. We’ve won many, but every point counts in competitions like this.”
What will your celebration be like when you score your first goal?
“I usually celebrate with the teammate who gives me the assist. So give me the ball. I need good assists. We have a good team, good harmony and atmosphere. And I think everyone will want to see me score my first goal because it will help the team. Then we’ll celebrate together, and I hope it will be a winning goal.”
Do you have any memories that come to mind when playing at San Siro?
“I played there against this team, in the match with Dortmund at San Siro. We played a very good match, I had a great night, a good performance, and yes, we won that game. It was also the ‘group of death’, I don’t know if you remember. The tough group with PSG and Newcastle. It was very demanding, and thanks to that match we went through to the next round because we won at San Siro. And now, when the fans told me ‘Welcome’, everyone was shouting my name and trying to give me a warm welcome. I felt it, from the fans and supporters, and I’m very, very grateful. It was a beautiful moment that I’m thinking about now.”
What is it like to share the dressing room with Modrić?
“He’s an incredible player, with an incredible career. And not only that, because he behaves in a very normal way, as if he were just a normal part of the group. He does normal things, behaves like everyone else. I think he’s a role model for the young players in the squad. And yes, it’s a great experience to play with a player like him. I’ve played with Kroos, Müller, Reus, Hummels, Neuer, many great players. And I think you can always try to improve by watching what they do. And of course, with Luka I also want to benefit in terms of scoring, because with the ball at his feet he’s incredible. His style of play and his vision are different. And I think if we get used to each other, I can really benefit from it."
