Franck Kessie accepts he ‘messes up too much, especially on counterattacks’ and claims Gian Piero Gasperini was ‘tougher’ than Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso.
Kessie will be facing former club Atalanta on Saturday, and the midfielder explained the differences between his Coaches past and present.
“Today I get chances but mess up too much, especially on the counterattack,” he told DAZN.
“It’s partly because I’m tired when I get to the opposing goal and partly because at Atalanta, I was joined by more players on the break.
“Now there are less around me and I often have to force the shot. Gattuso, however, gives me encouragement every day to give more. He asks me to be braver.
“Gasperini’s training sessions were tougher. We really ran a lot and Gasperini was angrier than Gattuso, even if that doesn’t seem to be the case because Gattuso shouts louder!
“I’m very fired up because the Champions League is the biggest competition in Europe and I’ll do my best to get there.
“Atalanta aren’t our only rivals for the Champions League. We have to think about ourselves first and try to win every game.”
Kessie then clarified why he did not celebrate after Krzysztof Piatek scored the Rossoneri’s third goal against Cagliari last weekend and why he did not take the No 19 back after Leonardo Bonucci’s exit.
“After the goal it’s normal that everyone went to cheer with Piatek, but I saw Calhanoglu had dropped his head after his shot was saved by Cragno, so I went to hug him.
“Right now he needs our support. We also see each other outside of training. Sometimes we have dinner together and talk.
“We arrived in the same period and didn’t know anyone. That’s how we became friends.
“The new owners had asked me if I wanted to take back the No 19, but I said ‘no’ because I feel good with No 79 and, above all, I didn’t want those who had already bought my shirt to spend more money!”
