Forza Kalac

Kalac makes Milan sacrifices
Friday 12 January, 2007


Zeljko Kalac reveals he gave up a trip home to Australia for Christmas and international duty so he could help Milan.

“I am just trying to give my contribution to the side, but when Dida returns from injury, I’ll be ready to step aside,” said the former Perugia goalkeeper.

In Dida’s absence for three months with a shoulder injury, Kalac has defended the posts for the Rossoneri and will again feature against Reggina tomorrow evening.

“I would like to end my career with this club,” he told ‘Milan Channel.’ “I didn’t have my Christmas holidays in Australia because it’s such a long and tiring journey.
“We were also set to go straight to Malta for the training camp and knew I’d require three or four days to recover from the jet-lag, but the team needs me right now and I wanted to be in good shape for them.”

The veteran shot-stopper also took international retirement from the Socceroos after the World Cup.

“I gave up on the national side because you have to really work hard at Milan and I want to be in a position to play my best, but those trips back to Australia would’ve sapped me of too much energy.”

channel4

not going home at Christmas just to help Milan ...

He hasn't been here long, but he is a true Rossoneri.

I believe that this big guy deserves more love and more respect from us.

exactly what i think....tru rossoneri i mean the guy just started cuz dida is injured and already wants to finish his career with milan? wow most people who sit on the bench like that dont think dat they think the opposite they say wow i need to get outta here to a team that needs me but this man doesnt have a heart of gold...he has a hear of RED AND BLACK!!!

... or he knows no other team wants him anymore or surely will not pay as much Milan does. He also wants to step aside immedeatly when Dida is recovred, that sounds as a lack of motivation to me.
That he didn't went to Australia for christmas is nice, but I think that the only player who is from a foreign country who went to his homecountry was Ricardo Oliveira. Because he said something of arriving a few days later in Malta in an interview lately. He was allowed to, probably because of the situation with his sister.

i wouldn't consider his intention to step aside as a lack of motivation... but rather as a clear understandin' on where his real place is... as Dida's deputy...

Don't forget how much he gets paid ...

Originally Posted by NAMMY

Don't forget how much he gets paid ...

how much is he paid?

A lot I guess, like most footballers.

Originally Posted by NAMMY

A lot I guess, like most footballers.

what's your point then?

Sorry. Nothing against the guy, but he gets paid to play football and would have been expected to play in Malta - especially as Dida is out and we need him. I'm sure he might have gone home if his family lived closer too. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by NAMMY

Sorry. Nothing against the guy, but he gets paid to play football and would have been expected to play in Malta - especially as Dida is out and we need him. I'm sure he might have gone home if his family lived closer too. Just my opinion.

I get your point now. Note that there are still many people who get well paid don't do their job though.

I guess I am just a bit disappointed in Dida. We pay him well too, maybe not outrageously high, as he is demanding now. Don't get me wrong, I have appreciated very much what Dida has done for us, and also understand that this probably will be the last big contract he will ever get in this career. If he leaves eventually, I will wish him well, but I can't help feeling disappointed.

I thought he said that he wanted to go back to Brazil after Milan, that's the reason that he hadn't renewed his contract with us. but if Chelsea story was true, I just couldn't believe that he was lying too (or, changing his mind). And I can't believe that he would hold the club ransom.

I think I just didn't expect this from Dida. At the same time, while people like to make fun of Kalac and wish that we didn't have him, I now believe that he deserves more respect from us fans. That's the whole point of starting this thread.

I think every player deserved to be respected... so does Kalac even tough he made stupid mistakes some time. But so far he has not cost us a single game yet, has he?

Originally Posted by Jeff

I think every player deserved to be respected... so does Kalac even tough he made stupid mistakes some time. But so far he has not cost us a single game yet, has he?

not this season. I don't recall any.

Okay, I guess I wasn't clear enough earlier.

Originally Posted by Xudong

I get your point now. Note that there are still many people who get well paid don't do their job though.

Sadly yes.

Regarding Dida, I wouldn't mind if we get someone to replace him who is a bit more consistent - though in a good way! Dida seemed to be more prone to mistakes recently, though the whole team has been disappointing. I think Milan's offer to him is reasonable, it's not like Dida has done much to deserve a raise (?) ....

Kalac is saying all the right things right now. Wasn't it not too long ago that he said he was going to fight Dida for the #1 spot? I guess he's pretty much capitulated at this point.

I thought he said that he wanted to go back to Brazil after Milan [...] but if Chelsea story was true, I just couldn't believe that he was lying too (or, changing his mind). And I can't believe that he would hold the club ransom.

With all due respect, nowhere did I hear about Dida actually declaring that he wanted to go back to Brazil if he didn't resign, and nor has he openly said that he wants to leave Milan, either. His name has often been bandied about in rumors of his going back to Corinthians, once during the whole Carlos Tevez parade (before he signed with West Ham) and sporadically since then when the rumor mill rears its ugly head. Speaking of rumors, Chelsea have a stash of respectable backups and Cech is starting to return to regular training, so there's no place for Dida there.

He wants to stay. Milan want him to stay. So what are Galliani & Co. waiting for? Perhaps they're hesitant to pull the trigger themselves due to Buffon's threat of leaving Juve. The age factor is irrelevant, and sure, he had one lousy season last year, but then had done a complete 180 up until his injury.

I'm not making him out to be a saint by any means. Both sides will have to give in a little to make this work. (To name a recent example, Real went through the same thing with Casillas last year and both parties turned out satisfied in the end.) At the same time, I guess it's OK that the likes of Buffon can make a boatload per season, and now when Dida wants a raise, even though he was arguably the best in the world from 03-05, we act as if he's demanding Fort Knox. Go figure.

it's not like Dida has done much to deserve a raise (?) ....

If that's the case, then what did Gila, who, in contrast, hasn't contributed much to Milan so far, do to warrant his pricey extension?

That being said, I'll get off my soapbox now.

Maybe to try and keep him at the club until we get European football (like how we extended Kaka and Pirlos contracts), and to ward off other clubs interest. I don't mind Dida having a contract extension, but he is (reportedly) asking for £3.5 million per season, instead of Milan's offer of £2.5 million which alll other palyers get paid. But I feel I've said enough on this issue ...
Funny how the Kalac thread is almost a Dida one now.