Calhanoglu: 'After last season they wrote us off, now we want to dominate'
Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu discusses the club's ambitions, the tactical nature of Serie A, and the impact of Simone Inzaghi and Cristian Chivu.
Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has opened up about the team's ambitions, emphasizing that despite being written off by critics last season, the squad remains focused on dominating Serie A. The Turkish playmaker highlighted the resilient mentality that defined their recent success.
Discussing the tactical landscape of Italy, Calhanoglu noted that Serie A presents unique challenges. «In Italy, it is more tactical and defensive. It is not easy to score here because all teams defend well, even the smaller ones. It is a very fine league, clearly in the top three alongside the Premier League and La Liga,» he explained.
The midfielder praised his manager Simone Inzaghi for his professional development, while highlighting the unique human approach of Cristian Chivu. «I cannot say anything about Inzaghi, he really wanted me at Inter, and I grew a lot with him. Chivu is different; with him, you matter more as a person. He is always available, gives you confidence, and makes you feel good,» Calhanoglu noted.
The objective is always to establish ourselves again in Italy, to try to win again and to dominate. Hakan Calhanoglu
Reflecting on his personal inspirations and teammates, Calhanoglu identified Ronaldinho as his childhood idol. When asked to choose the strongest player he has played with at Inter, he opted for Marcus Thuram, noting that the team is currently filled with high-level talent.