AC Milan full-back, Davide Calabria, has spoken to the media in a press conference on the eve of the game against RB Salzburg in Austria. Here are his words:
"We can't wait to start. We have prepared very well, we are all looking forward to playing this competition. A competition like the Champions League must be our home, we are very ready for tomorrow."
Do you perceive a different maturity this year?
"Last year, I think it was one of the most difficult groups in the history of the Champions League, from the point of view of the game we made a good group. Playing at this level makes you grow, I see a more mature team. This level that exists here, it's harder to find it in Italy, the pace is just higher. It's just good to play these games but we are ready. I can't wait for tomorrow."
About the new signing:
"One thing that struck me about everyone is the desire to prove their worth: I have seen mature and ready guys. Good guys out there and eager to learn. Charles certainly does not lack talent, he is good with the ball and has important timing in his plays when he doesn't have the ball. I didn't think Origi had such a physical strength, he's really strong and I think he can give us a big hand during the season."
Calabria on the Champions League group of last season:
"It certainly helped us a lot, especially the matches with Liverpool and Porto made us understand the intensity. The pace is much higher than in Italy and we have acquired what we needed to improve from last year."
The first time you wore a Milan shirt was in 2007, the year the Rossoneri won their last Champions League trophy. At what point is the current path to get to where Maldini had arrived, who as captain raised the cup that year?
"I think it will take some more time. It's a very long journey, there are teams much more ready than us, especially at an economic level: we also need that power there. We will do our best to best face this competition. We are Milan, one day we will aim to win: this year we look game by game and we do not set limits. I hope that one day I will be able to do what Paolo did, that's what we want to achieve."
