New Roma signing Ante Coric discussed learning discipline in Austria, coming from a football family and comparisons with Luka Modric.
“It’s going very well. I couldn’t wait to start and I’m very happy,” the Croatian creative midfielder told Roma TV.
“I can show my quality on the field. My positions are attacking midfielder or, when we play with three, on the left or in the middle.
New Roma signing Ante Coric discussed learning discipline in Austria, coming from a football family and comparisons with Luka Modric.
“It’s going very well. I couldn’t wait to start and I’m very happy,” the Croatian creative midfielder told Roma TV.
“I can show my quality on the field. My positions are attacking midfielder or, when we play with three, on the left or in the middle.
“In Croatian interviews, I am always compared to Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki or Luka Modric. But I can’t say that I am like Modric. I just can’t say it! I’d like one day to be like him and it’s such a pleasure when people say I play like him.”
This evening is the World Cup semi-final between Croatia and England, with the winners going on to face France.
“I am just waiting for tonight! If the worst comes to the worst, we’ll match our best ever result, but we have the chance to go one better.”
Coric only turned 21 in April and yet is a veteran of the sport.
“In football terms, I am not so young, as I have 150 games. I want to have 300 by the time I’m 22. I am young, I want to improve myself and I thank Dinamo Zagreb, who gave me my first game when I was 17 years old.
“I went to Salzburg when I was 12, changing my school, learning German in three or four months. It was difficult, but Austria was probably the best thing for my life. They instilled discipline, I was at the club from 8am to 8pm and in Croatia it’s not like that. There it is always football, football, football and that’s what I like.
“My oldest brother is the most talented in the family, at least that’s what they say, but it was a tough time in Croatia then. My second brother played in the Bosnian first league and my father is also very good. My family loves football!”
Pre-season training started this week under Coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
“I get along with William Bianda, we spend a lot of time together. I want to thank Daniele De Rossi, as he’s such a big, big, big player. He always asks me if I need anything, if I’m OK, tells me to take a break, but I am young and can’t complain.
“This is a big club, so when I heard Roma, I just said yes. I didn’t think too much, I just said yes. It’s going up and a very, very big club.
“I will be happy if I am part of the team. It’s important to train hard and I just want to be a part of the team.
“I was watching the Champions League game with Barcelona and I was so happy. It was crazy. I didn’t know I was going to Roma then, but just talking about it gives me goosebumps.”