Hakan Calhanoglu Admits Gennaro Gattuso Improved His Game

AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has credited manager Gennaro Gattuso for his upturn in form during the second half of the campaign. The Turkey international joined the Rossoneri from Bayer Leverkusen last summer and he had thereafter undergone a difficult period under manager Vincenzo Montella.

However, with the appointment of Gattuso, Calhanoglu managed to overcome of his key problems in terms of the language and he is satisfied with the progress under the once Champions League winner, he told Milan TV: “Yes, it’s true. The first few months were very hard for me, because Italian is difficult. I needed time to learn to speak it and talk with my teammates, and also to understand the lifestyle. When Gattuso arrived things became a bit easier for me because he also speaks English, so it became easier to communicate with him and his staff who speak English, but I also learned your culture and habits. Now I'm fine, I feel strong and I trust myself.”

Calhanoglu has contributed two goals and an assist in the last couple of games but this has, however, not been sufficient to propel the club towards the Champions League spots. Milan were one of the best performing sides alongside Juventus heading into April but they could not sustained the form thereafter with a run of four winless games in between.

Nevertheless, there have been plenty of positives for the club over the course of the season and Gattuso has the opportunity to impress next term where he would be in charge of the club from the off. Milan are currently occupying the sixth spot in the standings with a one-point advantage over Atalanta, whom they are due to face in their next league meeting. Prior to that, the Rossoneri have a Coppa Italia final against Juventus to contest at the Stadio Olimpico.