What Kessie said on AC Milan objective, Gattuso and Higuain

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie has been busy discussing various topics, revealing his thoughts on Gennaro Gattuso and Gonzalo Higuain.

The 21-year-old will be crucial for us again this season, offering physicality, energy and a combination of defensive and attacking qualities to offer balance to the side.

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Gattuso will undoubtedly play a key role in helping him to develop and improve his all-round game, and it’s hoped that he can go from strength to strength after an impressive debut campaign with us last season.

There’s no doubt over what the objective is this season though, as Kessie has reiterated that qualifying for the Champions League is what the club is focusing on, and he believes that both Gattuso and Higuain will be fundamental in making that happen given their respective qualities as a coach and a talisman.

“We have to give everything to reach the Champions League, it’s the goal of the team and everybody, we have to give our best,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Gattuso is a great person, a great coach, he is very good at motivating the players, he always does training with the same intensity, so in the field you can see.

“Higuain is a great player, a striker who scores 20-25 goals per season, we need him this season, he does a lot for the team, we have to have these types of strikers, he has his own style, for a team like Milan is great to have players like that, help the team.”

The Argentine forward has bagged two goals in his last two games to begin to make his mark, although the Rossoneri must also be careful not to rely too heavily on him to bail them out of trouble every time things aren’t going to plan.

Kessie is one of several players who must step up and ensure that doesn’t happen, as Milan look to get back to winning ways in Serie A when they face his old club Atalanta on Sunday evening.

With the likes of Inter and Roma making slow starts to the new campaign, it’s vital that we take advantage and make an early statement of intent that we’re ready to push for a top-four finish this year.