Hakan Calhanoglu Grateful to Inzaghi for New Midfield Role

Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu has expressed his appreciation to head coach Simone Inzaghi for assigning him a new role as a defensive midfielder. Speaking ahead of Inter's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, Calhanoglu reflected on his positional shift since joining the Nerazzurri.

"During my time at Leverkusen, I played as an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a winger," Calhanoglu noted. "Now, at Inter, I'm very happy to play as a defensive midfielder and thank the coach for placing me in this new position. I've worked hard to develop in this role and now feel good about my performance."

Calhanoglu also shared his sentiments about returning to Leverkusen, where he spent a significant part of his career. "It's great to be back here; this is my first match against Leverkusen since leaving the club. I have many emotions meeting the passionate fans again."

Regarding the upcoming match, Calhanoglu acknowledged the progress Leverkusen has made under coach Xabi Alonso. "Leverkusen has changed a lot over the years and has undergone a significant journey. Xabi Alonso took over the team in a difficult situation and led them to success. We expect a big challenge."

Inter Milan approaches the match in strong form, having faced top European teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and RB Leipzig. Calhanoglu emphasized the team's focus: "We know this game won't be easy, but we have big goals in mind. Tomorrow, we'll give our all and stay fully concentrated against Leverkusen."