Suso feels ready to become a key player for Milan this year and after unsuccessful time under Inzaghi and Mihajlovic – he believes that with Vincenzo Montella things will be different for him.

The 22-year-old joined Milan from Liverpool in January 2015 but up to this point has only made 8 official appearances with the red and black shirt.

Suso spent the second half of last season with Genoa on loan where he received consistent playing time and he showed his true qualities, scoring 6 times and assisting twice in 19 appearances with the Grifone. He’s now back with Milan and according to reports has convinced Montella who asked the club to take him off the transfer market. And Suso now hopes to finally get playing time at Milan.

“If this is the year when things changed for me? I hope so,” he told the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I feel that this year is different because I have improved. I’m working hard, even harder, before I understand that this may be the defining moment of my career. Although we’re only at the very beginning, I like knowing I’m the top scorer of Milan [in preseason] because I like to be important. I think you can only get something with working, and I work a lot.

“If I needed Montella to see the pitch with regularity? When I arrived in 2015 I wasn’t well physically. I had to acclimate, there was Inzaghi keeping me out a bit. What I don’t understand is why it also happened in the first half of last season. I spoke to the club about it and they told me that there was no evidence to my accusation and I continued on the bench. Sinisa Mihajlovic never asked anything of me, he never gave me any explanations. I always did well in training, but never played. However, I’m not one who causes trouble when I don’t play and I knew that my time would come.

“I’m back on my feet thanks to Gasperini? I went to Genoa to show everyone – including myself – that I’m up to wearing the Milan shirt and have the qualities to do it. Gasperini is a great coach and I like him a lot. The game-plan of Montella seems to be perfect for my qualities? It’s true, he like’s playing with the ball, possessing the ball, and for a club like Milan it’s an important philosophy.

“If we keep the ball at our feet, it’ll be difficult for our opponents. He likes me because I’m very ‘Spanish’ when it comes to this. If I feel the confidence of Montella? A wonderful sensation. I’m only in need of faith and continuity. This is the key. I only ask to play as many minutes as possible and with this coach I feel my moment has arrived. A message to the club? Yes. Milan can count on me;

“I’ve matured enough to be able to say that and I have always taken my responsibilities. I’ve always said I want to play for this club and stated my desire to stay to do something important. No more loans. What would I choose between playing in a first-level team where I’m not guaranteed a place and playing in a second-level team where I’m sure to play? I’ll be very honest: at my age I have to play. And if I can do it at Milan, which is a top club, then everything is perfect.

“Regrets over leaving Liverpool? My contract was about to expire and their renewal offer was not right for me. Certainly it is a special place and when I got there I was a kit and it seemed like a dream. I’m at Milan thanks to Liverpool. But I made the right choice coming to Italy.

“A Spaniard who loves Serie A doesn’t happen very often? Serie A is not a low-level competition; It’s a difficult season, especially for a striker. It’s the most difficult league in Europe. Just look at what happened in the EURO’s. Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Messi, he is the real phenomenon. He’s a player who inspires me. I also really like Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

“My best quality on the pitch? I see the goal well. I might stay 10 mins. without touching the ball but if I get it how and where I say – it’s a goal. Flaws and weaknesses? I have to improve my consistency during the same game. I want to remain in action during the whole game.

“The fact that I’ve only scored for Milan in friendlies? This doesn’t worry me. If I don’t score and the team wins it’s fine. I just need consistency. My goal? To be a bullet point at Milan.”