Kilicsoy to “Corriere dello Sport”

Cagliari striker Semih Kilicsoy spoke to Giulia Mazzi in an interview with “Corriere dello Sport,” available today, Friday, January 23. Here’s an excerpt.

THE GREAT GOAL IN TURIN
“It was a very beautiful goal on a personal level, a goal that represents me for my characteristics. A truly emotional moment, one that I feel is mine entirely.”

THE GROUP’S WELCOME
“I’m one of the few foreigners in the group, in a team with many Italians. During the celebrations, but also every day, I feel great affection, enthusiasm, and closeness. There’s a great desire to make me feel at home with the team, the atmosphere, and the city. There’s no one person in particular. Everyone, from the coach to the staff, from my teammates to everyone who works at the club, is giving me a huge hand.”

CAGLIARI’S CHOICE
“The president, the management, and the coach spoke to me clearly from the start. They showed a great desire to have me and to help me grow at Cagliari, in a prestigious club that allows you to express yourself. This made the difference. I’m happy here, and it’s the right club for me right now.”

COACH PISACANE
“He’s always been very direct with me, speaking clearly, almost like an older brother. He gives me advice, helpful insights, and pushes me to do better. It’s truly precious to have someone like him guiding me and my teammates. In this group, at this club, and with this coach, we can’t set limits. We have all the ingredients to achieve great things. Staying up is the main objective, but there’s truly great potential in every member of the club.”

A LOT OF TURKEY PLAYERS IN ITALY
“Yes, Yildiz and I talk often. We have a good relationship; we’ve known each other for many years. After the match, we talked, analyzed the game, and discussed Cagliari, the city, and my first experience in Italy. He’s been here longer and is giving me advice. Serie A is very complicated. The fact that there are more and more Turkish players means that the level of our players and our football has risen. I’m happy to be part of it and to test myself in this environment. I spoke with Inler, now sporting director of Udinese. We talk often, and he gave me important advice. Having compatriots here, who I know directly or indirectly, has also been helpful.”

SERIE A TOO TOUGH
“It takes a lot of skills and knowledge in both phases. You have to learn quickly, and that takes time. Time is necessary. Do I only score beautiful goals? That’s true, I’m aware of that and I agree. I hope to score more, especially important and useful goals, beyond the beauty of them.”

TURKEY NATIONAL TEAM DREAM
“Montella and I are in touch, we’ve gotten to know each other, and we have a good rapport. It’s up to me to earn a spot in the senior national team by doing well in Cagliari. The goal is to try to make the World Cup playoffs, but everything depends on what I do day after day in the Cagliari jersey. The national team is a goal, I want to become a key player after being captain of the Under-21s. I see Turkey as a good team in the qualifiers, we’ll make it. I’m also positive about Italy. I faced them in Bologna with the senior national team, my first appearance. Let’s say Italy was my destiny. It’s impressive, and it’s a great satisfaction to be the first Turkish player in Cagliari and the first to score. I don’t feel any particular pressure, but I do feel a sense of responsibility. It’s a great source of pride to have brought Turkey to Sardinia, too, and in this jersey.”

THE HEAVY COMPARISONS
“Arda is a great footballer, but I am me. I have my own characteristics and my own personality. I don’t think about comparisons; I work to improve and don’t want to be influenced. My role models? Cristiano Ronaldo, Lautaro Martinez, and Sergio Aguero. They are players I like for their technical ability and quality, and who I look up to for inspiration.”

TO FLORENCE
I’m positive. It won’t be easy, it’s a direct clash. We beat Juventus, so every game is different. I approach them all the same way. Ndour, a former teammate at Besiktas? We were together for a short time, we haven’t spoken in a while, but we respect each other and have a good relationship. We’ll see after the match. In Turkey, I also met and got to know a great striker like Ciro Immobile as a teammate: I have a lot of respect for him, he’s a fantastic player. I had a great relationship with him, it was an honor and a significant growth opportunity to have a player like him alongside me. It wasn’t an easy time for me at Besiktas. I was just starting out at a high level and that role wasn’t easy, but I adapted with a spirit of sacrifice and a desire to learn. The club was changing a lot and it wasn’t easy to perform at my best.

ORIGINS
My family, starting with my father, Senol, and my mother, Aysel, have always followed football. In Turkey, people live for football. Seeing that I could make a name for myself made me happy, and I’ve always worked to improve. My family is my source of inspiration. They live in Istanbul, and I always feel close to them. I miss Istanbul, and that’s normal. I always miss home. And I miss everything my mother cooked. But I’m happy here. The city of Cagliari is warm and welcoming. There’s support every day, and the ideal conditions for living well, even off the pitch. I’m studying Italian and English. It’s not easy, but I’m applying myself. I’m understanding more and more. Sardinian is the next level, little by little (laughs). I think I’m a very calm person. I rest, watch movies and TV series. I relax so I’m ready for the next challenge.

THE COACHES
“Every coach has left me with something. Now I’m very happy with my relationship with Pisacane. I have fond memories of Senol Gunes, and Montella is also an important figure for us Turks. The strongest defender I’ve faced so far? I’d say Van Dijk. I saw him up close and it was impressive. Facing champions like that pushes you to improve. I want to improve as a player and as a man. To become a permanent member of the Turkish national team. But everything depends on what I do every day in Cagliari. I want to establish myself like Semih Kilicsoy, and one day people will say: ‘He’s the new Kilicsoy.'”