Inter Milan center-back Manuel Akanji spoke to the press ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash against Liverpool.
Speaking to Inter’s Matchday Programme via FCInter1908, the 30-year-old offered an insight into his football beginnings.
Manuel Akanji looks set to miss this evening’s showdown at San Siro.
Indeed, the Manchester City loanee has come down with the flu and will not be in contention for the team.
With the Swiss ace unavailable, Cristian Chivu is likely to turn to Francesco Acerbi to fill the vacancy.
Meanwhile, Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck are expected to feature on the left and right sides of Inter’s back three, respectively.
Nonetheless, Akanji’s absence is a significant setback for Inter, considering his extensive experience against Liverpool.
Furthermore, he enjoyed great success against the Reds during his trophy-laden three-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Chivu’s side must deal with Arne Slot’s star-studded attack without the former Borussia Dortmund defender.
Inter Milan Star Manuel Akanji Willing to Sacrifice for the Team
Akanji first explained his humble beginnings.
“I fell in love with football thanks to my father,” he said. “My sister and I used to go watch him play, and that’s exactly why I started training myself.
“I’ve always been a hard worker, a positive and calm person. I’ve always loved playing football.
“My role is to defend and support my teammates as best as I can. For me, it’s essential to put myself at the service of the team.”
Known as a math genius, Akanji has drawn attention for his intellect, impressing fans with his analytical mindset.
“At school, I discovered I was pretty good at calculations,” he added. “So, I started practising more and more with numbers and improved a lot.
“I trained using every number I saw around me!”
Finally, Akanji underlined his readiness to put himself at the team’s service.
“The quality that has helped me the most is confidence in myself and my abilities.
“If I could take a quality from a teammate? I’d say Zielinski’s technique, because he can play very well with both feet, or maybe even Mkhitaryan’s.”