Marco Amelia reveals how he went from semi-retirement to signing for Chelsea. “I sent a message” to Jose Mourinho.
The 33-year-old former Milan goalkeeper put pen to paper on a contract until the end of this season.
“I am a lucky man because after the injury to Thibaut Courtois, I sent a message to Jose Mourinho’s staff to ask if they need a new goalkeeper,” Amelia told Chelseafc.com
Marco Amelia reveals how he went from semi-retirement to signing for Chelsea. “I sent a message” to Jose Mourinho.
The 33-year-old former Milan goalkeeper put pen to paper on a contract until the end of this season.
“I am a lucky man because after the injury to Thibaut Courtois, I sent a message to Jose Mourinho’s staff to ask if they need a new goalkeeper,” Amelia told Chelseafc.com
“He called me and said Marco, come here and train with us and then we will decide about you. Then the club called to give me a contract so now I am staying here and I am very happy.
“My story is unusual as one year ago I said stop playing because I wanted to work on a project in my small town but I had played just in Italy and when other clubs outside Italy spoke with me, I said I won’t stop, I want to play because for me it is an experience, and when you are wanted by a big club like Chelsea it is impossible to say no.”
Amelia had been practically retired after a spell in Serie B with Perugia, training with Lega Pro side Lupa Castelli, where he is the honorary President after helping to create the club.
“I have played for big clubs like AC Milan and Roma. I think that Chelsea is a big, big, big club, a special club. Now we have not so good results but for me it is important to work with the staff and players to help the team back to winning.
“Now it is important for me to stay with the team for a match and to help the other goalkeepers and if the manager says to me okay, Marco, you must play, I am ready. No problem.
“I have a lot of experience and for a young team that is important. I want to speak with the young players to help because we can change this moment.”
It was during his time at San Siro that Amelia honed his language skills.
“I learnt English in the dressing room at AC Milan. For me it is important to speak English and when Clarence Seedorf, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kevin-Prince Boateng and other players spoke it, I learnt from them.
“In Italy at my school the teaching of English was not good. For me now, it is very important to practice it with the players here at Chelsea and with my wife who speaks very good English.”