Hutchinson: The coach said my performance against him left a deep impression

AC Milan new signing Omari Hutchinson attended a fan meeting at the club's official flagship store and was interviewed by local media afterward.

Hello Omari, welcome to Italy. I would like to know how your first few days in Italy and Milan have been. Are you ready to play matches now? Also, is there anything about Milan or the environment here that has surprised or impressed you?

Yes, thank you very much for inviting me and welcoming me. Yes, everything has been great. I just need to settle in and adapt very quickly. I have been staying in a hotel and am trying to find a suitable apartment. But yes, being with the whole team feels amazing. The coaching staff have given me a lot of help, and everyone here speaks English, so everything has been very smooth for me so far. My teammates have also been very good, and everyone is trying to help me integrate into the team as quickly as possible.

As for matches, I think the head coach is trying to help me gradually adapt, get used to the team's rhythm, get used to sitting on the bench, and also gradually adapt to the matches themselves. So yes, the process has been quite smooth and stable in that regard. Uh... what was the other question you asked?

What has surprised you?

I think it is the fan base here. Everyone has such huge passion for Milan, and they are so eager for victories. They genuinely want to win matches and see their team succeed. So yes.

Hello, you are a player who is good at dribbling past opponents and has explosive ability, right? So do you prefer scoring goals yourself, or would you rather provide assists for teammates, such as assisting Gonçalo?

It depends on the situation. Sometimes I really enjoy providing assists, and that gives me pure joy; but at the same time, you know, scoring goals can also build a lot of confidence. So I would say it is a combination of both. You have to do both things. And to become one of the top players, you have to, yes, as I said, do both aspects well. Therefore, I will try to do both as much as possible during matches.

Omari, can you tell us how the opportunity to join Milan came about? How did this transfer opportunity develop?

I think the main thing was that the head coach really wanted me to join. I believe he communicated with the club's senior management, and the management was also very interested in me. The process was actually quite natural because, as you know, I had previously faced him in a match against Manchester United, and I think my performance at that time left a very deep impression on him. He said he needed a left-footed player in that position, and that I fully matched his requirements, so the signing process was not too complicated.

Can you talk about your relationship with the head coach? Have you shared any special memories, such as your first Premier League goal?

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I faced his team in the first match he coached, and I performed quite well at that time. He said my performance left a deep impression on him, and I think that played a long-term role in building trust between both sides. Yes, since I joined Milan, he has helped me in many ways and often communicates with me, so yes, he has been very good to me.

Hello Omari, as you know, Serie A is a top league with a very strong tactical focus. Are you aware that your one-on-one ability and your ability to break through defenders could become a key tactical weapon for Milan this season?

When I first spoke with him on the phone, that was the first thing he mentioned. He said that after joining, I needed to learn how to break through and tear open opponents' defensive lines because, as you know, some Serie A teams sometimes defend very deep. Yes, I believe I have the ability to break down such defenses, and I am very excited to get on the pitch as soon as possible and show myself.

Hello Omari, before joining, what was your view of Italian football? Did you often follow Serie A before?

To be honest, I did not pay much special attention to it before. Obviously, you might see Serie A teams in FIFA games or watch some match highlights on social media. But yes, now that I have transferred here, I have learned and seen much more about Serie A. Yes, I am fully ready to play in this league.

You joined the team the day after Leão left in a transfer. Do you feel that you are carrying a heavy responsibility or pressure because of that?

Actually, there is not too much pressure. I think we play in two completely different positions. He is a left winger, while I mainly operate on the right. But obviously, I also hope to bring a huge and positive impact to the team, just as he did when he performed well here. Yes, I am confident in myself, and I have a clear job and task to complete.