Alfajo Cisse: Pressure can motivate me to perform better

Italy will host France at the San Siro Stadium in the fifth round of Group A of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. AC Milan's Italian midfielder Arfacho Cissé stated that he enjoys dealing with pressure and believes it motivates him to perform better.

In an earlier Serie A match, Arfacho Cissé and Pulisic scored to help AC Milan defeat Genoa 2-1. So far in the 2026/27 Serie A season, Cissé has contributed 5 goals for the Rossoneri and 3 goals in the Europa League, demonstrating outstanding performance.

"I've always been eager to prove myself, and the past few months have been very fulfilling. I hope to have more of these experiences in the future," said 20-year-old Alfajo Cissé.

“The previous injury was a difficult period for me, but the recovery process also brought about a positive change in my mindset. I dealt with it all well and faced the injury with the right attitude. When I arrived at AC Milan’s training ground, I was quite confident.”

Alfajo Cissé shared, "I chose to play for Catanzaro because I wanted more playing time, and the coach and sporting director also wanted me to join. I can play in all positions, although I'm not sure if I can name my favorite position, but I can play anywhere in the attacking area."

"It's wonderful to be part of the national team, but it also means taking on a lot of responsibility. We've only been here a few days, but the feeling so far is very positive. In the next few days, we'll have more opportunities to get to know each other better."

Speaking about his development at AC Milan, Alfacho Cissé said, "My teammates at AC Milan welcomed me very warmly. There is indeed a big gap between Serie B and Serie A, but the enthusiasm of my teammates helped me adapt to the new environment easily. I am very grateful to Aquilani, who gave me a lot of confidence. I feel sorry that he did not achieve the desired results at Sassuolo, but I believe he will become a very good coach in the future."

"AC Milan will always prioritize winning, whether it's for the Serie A title or any other competition. This is the club's consistent requirement, and it's wrong to neglect one competition for the sake of another. At AC Milan, you must strive to win every title."

Alfajo Cissé also said, "Aquilani had a huge influence on me in the first few months of last year, but I also want to thank everyone who helped me. I like pressure because it motivates me to perform better."

Regarding the opportunity to make his senior debut for the Italian national team, Alfacho Cissé said, "The final decision rests with the coach. It would be even more special if I could return to the San Siro to represent the national team. I have great ambitions, and it would be an honor to play for the national team."

“I believe I have broad enough shoulders to take on this responsibility. There are many players in the national team who have been here for many years and have even won the European Championship. I respect them a lot. Right now, my first priority is to make my national team debut. As for other things, we can think about them later.”

Image source: Internet