Calhanoglu prepares for Champions League round of 16: “I have to give everything”
Nerazzurri midfielder è ready for Champions challenge
With only a few days to go before the start of the Champions League Round of 16, Hakan Calhanoglu made some statements on official UEFA channels, expressing all his determination and awareness of the importance of the competition for every footballer. Inter will face Feyenoord at de Kuip, and for Calhanoglu it will be an opportunity to prove once again his value in European competitions.
“When I play in UEFA competitions I have to commit myself 100 percent, becauseé when you play in the Champions League all eyes are on you and expectations are different”, said the Turkish midfielder. “È the biggest tournament, Champions è at a top level. You have to give everything”. Words that show the great motivation of Calhanoglu, who is aware that on stages like the Champions League, every detail counts and every performance can make a difference.
During the interview, Calhanoglu also had a chance to recall some of his most beautiful goals in the Champions League, with a special focus on those scored in the Inter shirt. The midfielder put the goal against Barcelona in the group stage first, calling it the most difficult one because of the circumstances in which it è came. "I was very close to the ball, so I had no freedom of movement. I had to think and act fast and that made it a difficult shot, even though from the outside it might have looked easy. I shot it in a split second".
In second place, Calhanoglu picked out the goal on a free kick against Red Star: “It had been a long time since I scored on a free kick in the’Inter Milan. I enjoyed the moment, because I knew people were wondering ‘When will Hakan return to scoring on a free kick? ’”, he explained, visibly excited. In the third place, however, he recalled his goal against Atletico Madrid with Bayer Leverkusen, a special memory related to the presence of Fatih Terim, the former coach of the Turkish national team, in the stands.
Although Calhanoglu has a great career behind him, with numerous goals and outstanding performances in the Champions League,è it is evident how the motivation for this edition of the European tournament is very high. Inter is preparing to face a crucial challenge against Feyenoord, and the Turkish midfielder, along with his teammates, will try to put all his experience on the field to win a place in the quarterfinals.
