Origi: “I’m looking forward to going on this journey, speaking with Maldini and Massara was decisive for me, for me it is all about focus and my focus is on being the best Divock that I can be”

Divock Origi spoke to the press as he was presented at Milanello.

The Rossoneri officially announced the signing of Origi on a free transfer this week and yesterday he was presented to the press at Milanello, answering the questions of the many reporters.

Divock is currently injured and is not training the squad but the Belgian striker seems prepared mentally for the new season and is ready to be the best version of himself.

In Liverpool you call them ‘vibes’, but it’s ‘vibration’ in fact in Italian. Have you actually felt these ‘vibes’ when you were on the 7th of December at San Siro with the match Milan-Liverpool? Could you feel those vibes?
“Definitely. I could feel that; you feel the history of the club, you feel the culture of club. For us all who are excited to be here, as a lover of football: it’s a pleasure, it’s an honor to be at such a mythical stadium, so straight away even when Milan scored the goal you could feel the crowd pushing, it’s something I love: the minute that the people care, the minute there’s a relationship there, it means that a certain culture there has been set, people are aligned and that what make a big club also like Milan.”

Throughout last season Olivier Giroud scored very important goals and decisive goals which allowed Milan to win the Scudetto. You also scored very important goals in your career, you scored against Barcelona, against Tottenham in the Champions League final, in so many Merseyside Derby matches against Everton. So do you feel like you have this common with Giroud and how do you feel about that?
“Yes, I would say I followed the league, the whole journey from Milan last season. It was a special season. You could feel it from everywhere in the world. As a football community you see when something special is happening and after so long. And then you saw the different goal that Giroud scored against Inter and many others and that’s something that you appreciate. It comes with being consistent in the small thing and preparing in every training. Because as a player, as a striker, your goal is to bring your best qualities there for the team and that comes from respecting every single moment: training session, recovery, preparing for the game, tactical sessions… and then the beauty of football is when you plant those seeds and then it comes out in ways that you cannot expect. That’s what beautiful about every game, you go in knowing that you prepared everything and yeah that’s something that I’ve also had in the past and I want to continue doing. You never know when these moments happen or how these moments will happen, but the best thing you can do is – like I said – respect the process and prepare as well as possible. And that gives you the chance to enjoy and then hopefully with the team and the fans.”

When did you choose to come to Milan? Why?
“I would say in the end of the season. We’ve had conversations and I followed, but for me it was about focusing on the big season with Liverpool and finishing off. And after the season it was very clear. The project of where the club is going, I feel there’s a special project being built from all different levels. Speaking to the people in the club it’s very clear, everyone is on one page. And then you have the club of Milan, the history, the legacy that has being built and the legacy that is continuing to be built and the special story that the team is writing. For me, I wanted to be a part of that, be able to bring my qualities, my ambitions, and my vision into those and in the service of the collective. And that’s when I felt, when we had the conversations, everything was aligning. For me it was a very clear choice. And obviously being part of a legacy of Milan and be able to play a part – I am very grateful for this opportunity because again as a lover of football, I enjoy every single moment of it and so the decision was very clear.”

Is there any player in the past of Milan that you consider being inspired by as a player? That you would compare with?
“There are so many, it’s hard to pick one because there are so many players… I’d say, when you look at it, whenever a player comes and they come into a certain culture, that’s how you see special things and there’s a special culture going on here. I can say that even before I like to go and look at figures in the history of football, you look at – specifically for me – strikers. The players that played here, and there are so many… you look at Van Basten and Shevchenko and Inzaghi and many, many others. And for me it’s about being able to see that, learn from that but also it kind of goes back to your own process: I don’t believe in comparing because everyone has their own legacy and their own journey. And every story is different. I do believe in maximizing your own potential and being inspired from every person: for me it doesn’t matter if you’re a defender, striker, you can get inspired from everything. I can use everything, even outside of football, to learn and grow. So for me it’s about being able to maximize your potential while enjoying the beautiful things that have been done here in this club.”

You come from a very important club – Liverpool – and you have become famous and popular for those important goals you scored, against Barcelona the goal that allowed Liverpool to reach the final, and then the goal against Tottenham in the Champions League final. So, you are always decisive and you score essential and decisive goals. Do you think this is one of the qualities you want to bring here to Milan, to the Champions League pathway of Milan?
“I would say that as a player you always want to be important and valuable to the team. But I really believe in known ways of focuses and it came to being able to focus on the right things, on the process, and preparing in the right ways. And obviously you want to be consistent. For me if there’s one thing it’s consistency, have consistency in every single game, in training, in everything, keeping the same standards. And then creating beautiful moments, because those are moments that you can share with people and that stick with you. And that’s 100% something that you want to be able to share with the fans, beautiful moments and that comes from respecting every single training session, the whole process. And then wherever or how these moments will come, I wish there will be a lot, but how and when – that’s the beauty of football – you’ll find out how the season will go. But I’m very optimistic.”

We have here in the front row Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara, the top directors of the club. How important was it for you to talk to them and decide to share their project?
“For me it was very decisive. I know Maldini as a great football player, he is in the Hall of Fame, for me, of football. What he’s done goes beyond generations and there’s also Massara. I would say they’ve done huge, huge work – looking from the outside. It shouldn’t be underestimated how much the soul and the breathing and being able to explain: I could get a good sense of what it means to be able to be at the Club, what the values are, what’s needed… you could feel the ambition, you could feel the passion – on all sides. And then I’m not talking about other things that go beyond what you can comprehend as a football player. So for me I’m very grateful because that’s not something that is there in every club, something that really has to be valued and I believe those are the building stones for something beautiful and you see what’s been achieved now: it’s something very big, and huge credit to Mr. Massara and Mr. Maldini. And yeah, for me I’m happy that the club is surrounded by people who have a good vision and know where they are going. And have experience. And for me it allows me to be able to express myself and hopefully show the best of myself.”

The fans that are following you know that you have a kind of a negative side and a very positive side. The kind of negative side would be that you in your career have had several injuries, so they want to know how you feel and when you think you’ll be able to play with the team. And then the very positive side is that you were able to score against Everton in the Derby matches. The Derbies are very important here in Milano, so how did you do it? How is it that you were always able to score goals in the Derby? Is there any special magic you have for that?
“I would say that in terms of injuries, for me it’s always about focusing on being as available as possible. I would say I played a big part of my career. Maybe from external side there’s been this perception but for me I feel like I’ve been a big part of my Liverpool career on the pitch. And these are things that I use to come back stronger, you know how to feel your body, you go deeper, you speak to several people who are specialists and it helps you to get back and have a better understanding of how the body works. For me, I feel very good, I feel like I’m coming into the prime of how my body physically feels. I feel like I’ve experienced a lot on a mental level, I feel like I’ve prepared spiritually also for this. So I feel very happy. And to go to the Derby: those are things that came within the process. I enjoy playing every game and every game is a challenge, every game has a different story. And you go into the game being as well-prepared as possible and I wish I could tell you there’s a secret sauce of a recipe but it’s mostly just respecting the game of football. I think once you respect the game of football and give to it – it gives back much more than you can imagine and it gives back in the most special moments. And that’s what happened in the Derbies against Everton: something that is very key. But also here, that’s part of the culture of the Club: knowing that the games against Inter are very special and I like competing in special games and however they go – the best thing you can do is to prepare as well as possible, individually, as a team, and then go out there and enjoy the game. And of course we win to go and win the game, that’s our ambition. So I’m looking forward to all the games, and even more the special games.”

From the outside – Serie A football is quite different from Premier League football. So what do you think you can bring about to Italian football and to Milan from your Premier League experience with Liverpool?
“Yeah, I would say it’s a different league. I’ve been able to play in different leagues: in Germany, in France and then in England and on international football. And I like the way there’s different accents and different ways of playing. I would say that definitely the Italian game is a very tactical game, it’s a very intelligent game, there’s a lot of individual qualities. So I know the teams, there are so many teams that compete for those leading spots and then every game is different: tactically things that vary in so many different ways. I think the volume might be higher, maybe the physical sprint I’ll put and everything would be higher in the Premier League, but in terms of volume and everything it’s higher here. So for me, it’s a new challenge: I just want to go out there, enjoy, prepare, see a new league, obviously study and get new experiences and games.”

Concerning your career, you’ve had a very important one: you started with Lille, then on loan at Wolfsburg and then you were also many years at Liverpool. And now that you are 27-years-old, you are here for the final part of your career with Milan. How do you see that, like a final achievement for you in this club? And secondly, the fans were very fond of you at Liverpool, you had a big celebration, and they said: ‘Football without Origi is nothing’. There was so much reaction for you leaving Liverpool and also the fans here at Milan are so happy to welcome you. How do you feel? Do you feel you’ll be accepted and welcomed like you were at Liverpool?
“I feel very grateful for the opportunities, the journey that I’ve been able to have. As a young kid that’s what you work for, you put in so many hard hours before you even get to professional level and the fact I was at Liverpool – you go and you give the best of yourself. And I think that’s the most important thing, to be able to give the best, because you couldn’t have told anything that would happen before I started. What I did was go out there and give everything I have. Try to win as many games as possible and maximize the potential. And the game of football gave so much back to me, the Club gave so much back to me. And especially being here, in the phase of Milan, I would say I’m always big on focus: you can only focus on so many things as a player and there are so many things, but for me I want to focus on maximizing the potential I have and that’s the best way that you can honor being in this position: being with the fans, to maximize whatever you have and put it in the service of the team. And then as a team go and win games. And that’s one thing that I can know that I will be able to give the fans: everything of myself. And hopefully this story will be very special. I’ve heard many good things about Milan fans and I’ve played them, but now I’m looking forward to going on this journey.”

I’d like to know if you’ve already had the occasion to talk with Coach Pioli and also with some teammates… Have you had any special ‘feeling’ with any of the teammates? Is there anyone you like the best compared to others in the team?
“I like everyone. Honestly, it’s been a great dressing room to be able to walk into. Very welcoming since Day 1. You could sense that there is a togetherness, you could also sense that there’s a special cohesiveness going on, especially after last season. And I’m happy, I’m happy that I’m here. I’ve had a conversation with the Coach also. Out of respect and privacy reasons, you know, you want to keep that confidential, but what I can say is that we are both very excited to start this journey together here. I expect a lot from myself, I think he said it as well: we are both very ambitious and both have the interest of maximizing our time together and for me, I’ve seen the work, I’ve played obviously against Milan and it’s an unbelievable team. So I’d say the work that the coach has done is really great. You can sense the tactical awareness, you can sense the intelligence of the game, the passion, the way he lives the game. And I can’t wait to go on this journey together and just soak in as much as possible and again, all of this is to be able go and win games; so I’m very excited also to go out there and compete to win games.”

I’d like you to give 2 messages: one to Lukaku, who will be your opponent on the Derbies and on international level you’ll see him. And then another message to the directors on why they should buy De Ketelaere?
“I would say that obviously on the Club level, the expertise is there. I’m not a person to speak about who we’re going to buy. I would say the Club is in very safe hands and whatever happens it will be the best decision for the Club. And then going to Romelu, I would say he’s a great player. I’ve known him since I was young. He’s a big bonus for the league, the fact that he’s here. And that’s what you want as a great player – to be able to go out there and compete against the best players and that’s why I love coming into Serie A as well because everywhere you go, you go play against great players. And it will make the game – you know, again as a lover of football, something who wants to go and compete – it will be a pleasure to be able to have so much quality, especially with Rom, and yeah, go and play together.”

I was very impressed by the words Klopp had for you, so probably you really have this talent and capacity to be liked by managers and coaches. So what do you expect from your new relationship with the new coach, Mister Pioli?
“I would say we’ve had a great path together, obviously won a lot. And yeah for me I’m so happy that I was able to write those chapters together with the Coach and with Liverpool and in the end it was very emotional. And yeah, looking back it’s very happy that we’ve been able to experience that and going now into it, again, I would say that as a player focus is so important. My thing I focus on now is being able to be the best Divock that I can be. Because I think that’s the best thing you can do – for the team, the Club, for everyone here – it’s to be the best version of yourself. And knowing that you have a great Coach that knows how to put everything together and that aspect… I’m so happy to work together. How that relationship would be – I’d say again that the best thing you can do is to be the best version of yourself. And hopefully we can write so many beautiful chapters together as a team and with the Coach. But I’m looking forward to working with the ‘Mister’, as they are called in Italy.”

So I’d like to suggest you a player from home you should take inspiration from: Louis Van Hege. He was the Olympic in Antwerp in 1920 and he scored 97 goals in 98 matches he played. So can you promise to the Milan fans that will you be the other Louis Van Hege or the modern type?
“[Laughs] First of all I want to thank you for that part of football history, because I enjoy knowing these things from before my time; I’ll definitely look into that. The only thing I can promise – and that is obviously an unbelievable achievement – but I can promise to give the best version of myself. And I would say that’s the beauty of football, we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, that’s why the fans come to the stadium, and they give so much money to be able to enjoy the experience of football. So for me that’s the thing I want to enjoy: I’ll give everything, passion, learn as much as possible about the Club, maximize every single moment together and hopefully write a beautiful story. So I’m looking forward to it and it will come soon.”