Davide Calabria: Gennaro Gattuso has made me a man | OneFootball

Milan won 3-1 over Atalanta this past weekend in a giant match to keep them in the top-four.

Krzysztof Piątek scored a crucial brace and after the match, Davide Calabria reveled in the victory.

“The game against Atalanta was fundamental against a direct rival,” he told Milan TV.

“There were several games where we could extend the gap but we didn’t do.

“This time we managed with an excellent performance against a team going through a positive run like us.

“There are genuine guys that have arrived with the desire to work.

“They never claimed anything, they always give 100 per cent.

“Had Kris [Piątek] not scored that fantastic goal we don’t know how the game would’ve gone, he was behind the turning point.

“It’s always better for big teams to have two players that can give a lot in the same role, it also depends on the form.

“I played with him in the national team.”

Despite spending €24m on right-back Andrea Conti just two years ago, it appears Calabria could be Milan’s permanent member of the first XI thanks to his unbelievable form.

“Me and Conti can alternate between the right back and right midfielder roles without a problem.

“With [former Milan boss Vincenzo] Montella, I started playing almost always then I had a serious ankle injury.

“With [manager Gennaro] Gattuso, we work a lot on the defensive lines and the results can be seen.

“As a player and as a man within the squad he has given me so much and can still give so much.

“I started the 2015-16 pre-season with the team several clubs wanted me.

“The coach noticed me and after a friendly game and said he would keep me.

“I could’ve left on loan but the coach gave me confidence and kept me in the squad.”

Milan host relegation-threatened Empoli this Friday.