AC Milan's new right-back, Kyle Walker, has spoken to the media in a press conference to present himself.
Here's what the former Manchester City player said, as relayed via Milannews.it:
What perception have you had of Milan throughout your career?
"Clearly, playing for Milan is something fantastic. It’s a great ambition for my career to try a new experience. I thought this was a great opportunity to come here and express my talent."
Have you spoken to any former Milan players?
"Yes, I spoke to one of the greats (addressing Zlatan, ed.) before coming here. He made it clear that the club wants to do well. Milan won the Supercoppa, and that’s a good start. Things aren’t going that well in the league, but in the Champions League, things are different. We only need one point to avoid the playoffs. I bring my experience and leadership. We have the right players, and the people behind the scenes are doing the right things to bring this club back to the top."
What did you already know about our country and our football, Serie A?
"Clearly, during my childhood, I watched the great teams, and when you see them play in the Champions League, you see the kinds of players who played in Italy. I wanted to experience those emotions. There were many other teams interested, but I had the feeling that it was the right moment to come here. Zlatan was fantastic, and I wanted to prove I could perform not only in the Premier League but also in Serie A."
What does Milan need right now?
"I think, based on what I’ve seen, the passion, the desire to win, the pressure we need to put on ourselves to win games. Of course, there’s the Champions League, where we’re playing against big teams, no disrespect to Parma, but there was a big difference between the first and second halves. We need enthusiasm and leadership on the field. Zlatan spoke about what happened between Calabria and Conceição yesterday, and they showed they care."
What made you choose Milan?
"The club’s history and the project that Zlatan proposed to me."
On the bonus for winning the Champions League with Milan
"Clearly, it would be a dream to win it. I’ve already had the fortune to win and lose it with City. I’ve experienced both situations. I assure you, it’s much better to be applauded than to applaud the opponents, but we’ll talk more about that later because it depends on our path in the Champions League. Economic bonus? No, I play football not for the money but for the passion. Things weren’t going well at City, and that’s one of the reasons I came here—to play more and win many trophies. When I signed with City, I won 17 trophies, but I won’t stop there, even though I’m 34. I prefer to win. I guarantee that."
When Parma took the lead, did you think, “Why did I do this?”
"No, it’s football. Things happen during the game, but at the final whistle, we got the victory we wanted and needed, and since we have an important match on Wednesday and the derby on Sunday, it was an important step to start this week in the best way possible."
Are you ready to take on the role of leader on and off the field? Walker replied:
"It’s what I have to do. With my age and my experience, I can pass this message to the younger ones, but I can’t do it alone. There are also other leaders, but maybe there’s a lack of confidence. Consistency in results is needed. The coach changed, but I believe Conceição has good ideas, solid foundations to build the team. Sometimes, discipline is needed, that fire inside that must be transmitted to others and that has perhaps been lacking lately. I hope Rubs (Loftus-Cheek), Fik (Tomori), and Tammy (Abraham) can have confidence in me. I hope my teammates can follow me on the field. I’ve won a lot in my career, but I come here hoping to win many more trophies with Milan."
What do you fear about this Inter?
"I’ve already played against Inter this year with City in the Champions League. It will be a different match because, in Manchester, it was a chess game; we could’ve done better, but we played well that night. Based on what I’ve heard, it will be a different match, an exciting one, but in the last derby, we won the Supercoppa, and they will seek revenge. But it’s a matter of mentality; we have to give our best for that match—not just for ourselves, for the standings, but also for our fans."
What did Guardiola tell you about Milan?
"When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t an easy conversation, due to the mutual respect between us. I hope he knows what I can offer to a locker room, the atmosphere I can create. City was my family, from the gardener to the chef. I believe I was appreciated, and I hope to do the same here. I want to learn the Italian language, I have a lot of hunger, fire inside to achieve my goals. I don’t want to win trophies in just one country, but also abroad."
Do you believe in destiny?
"I hope so. I don’t strictly believe in destiny, but I believe in hard work. You reap what you sow, and it’s not about doing a lot of things thanks to my birthday (laughs, ed.). It takes a bit of luck, but performances are also needed."
What category is Rafael Leao in?
"Rafa, I believe, quality speaks for itself. What I’ve seen in training, even in the Champions League when I was at Manchester, but also what I heard from Dias and Silva at City. He has all the qualities in the world; now it’s up to him to be one of the best in the world. This team has quality; all the players have it, otherwise, they wouldn’t play. There needs to be a bit of arrogance, not arrogance. It’s not like I’m the best, go on the field, and score a hat trick. You need to work hard."
On Theo Hernandez:
"I played against Theo with the national team. He’s a top player; the stats speak for themselves. This should be the beginning; he’s 26. I arrived at City when I was 27. I believe this is the most important period for a defender, the peak of a career because you use your head much more, both offensively and defensively. If he needs advice, I’m available, but I hope to complement Theo. The important thing is the team, not individuals. Individuals will stand out when they’re doing well."
On the first meeting with Coach Sergio Conceição:
"He’s happy I’m here, and I need to prove I’m a good player. He and his staff made themselves available, as did the club, who welcomed me with open arms. I must thank them for the warm welcome and for making everything simple. Now it’s up to me to respond on the field."
Walker at Milan like Hamilton at Ferrari? Is it a challenge against yourself?
"Thank you for your kind words. As I said, I could have stayed at Manchester; I still had a contract that I would have respected. Sometimes life is about challenges. You find yourself in a situation where you want to try something different. I’ve spoken to other players who haven’t played outside the Premier League, and they tell you that, with hindsight, they would have done it. But when a club like Milan is interested in you, there are clubs you can’t say no to, and this is one of them. I was reassured that Milan really wanted me, and I felt it was the right decision. I hope to finish the season well, both personally and as a team."
