Milan full-back Davide Calabria admitted the Derby della Madonnina ‘can change the season’ and said he ‘owes a lot’ to Paolo Maldini.
The 24-year-old grabbed the opportunity at right-back under coach Stefano Pioli and felt the Rossoneri’s development went hand-in-hand with his own at San Siro.
“I worked a lot, we worked a lot,” Calabria told Corriere della Sera. “It’s as if Milan and I grew together in this last year.
Milan full-back Davide Calabria admitted the Derby della Madonnina ‘can change the season’ and said he ‘owes a lot’ to Paolo Maldini.
The 24-year-old grabbed the opportunity at right-back under coach Stefano Pioli and felt the Rossoneri’s development went hand-in-hand with his own at San Siro.
“I worked a lot, we worked a lot,” Calabria told Corriere della Sera. “It’s as if Milan and I grew together in this last year.
“We understood what we needed to improve, and we did it in silence, when everyone was talking.”
Milan suffered a shocking setback against Spezia, as Inter leapfrogged the Rossoneri in Serie A, and Calabria said ‘everything went wrong’ against Vincenzo Italiano’s men.
“It was a bad day. The classic game where everything is wrong, for everyone,” he continued.
“Now, let’s keep our heads high. It’s a decisive week with Red Star and the derby. We must not panic, we’ll get out of it with hard work.
“With humility, concentration and enthusiasm. It’s a long race for first in the table, nothing is compromised.
“What matters is to finish first, but now we are thinking about the Cup.”
Milan travel to Serbia for the first leg in the round of 32 in the Europa League against Stella Rossa.
“We care a lot,” Calabria stressed. “We want to go all the way. Europe is Milan’s natural habitat.”
But in Italy the focus is already on the thrilling Derby della Madonnina this weekend, when Milan and Inter clash in an exciting Scudetto battle.
“It can change the season,” Calabria admitted. “That’s why we want to win in Belgrade tomorrow.
“Winning helps to win. We must immediately recover that mentality that allowed us to be top for 21 days.
“Then we will think about the derby. And about winning it, of course. Even in the first leg, they thought of us as underdogs, right?”
But Calabria also claimed Inter and Juventus have the strongest squads in Serie A.
“They are the best equipped, together with Juve,” he said. “But everything is open. We just have to keep quiet and work, as my father taught me.”
Calabria said he ‘owes a lot’ to technical director and former defender Paolo Maldini, whilst he praised coach Stefano Pioli.
“I owe a lot to Maldini. He’s a legend. He has encouraged me since I was in the youth team,” the full-back revealed.
“Milan was my dream and I kept it tight. Pioli? There was some misunderstanding early on. It wasn’t easy for me to learn what he wanted from me.
“Then we talked a lot, we confronted each other, and I have improved a lot, thanks to his help. We have an excellent relationship, he’s a great coach and a great man.”
Calabria concluded by talking about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s impact at Milanello since the veteran’s return in January 2020.
“Zlatan makes a difference,” he said. “You look at him and feel stronger.
“He taught us to have the winning mentality, to be from Milan.”