After the 3-3 home draw against VfB Stuttgart the stats of Zagreb-born Badelj were impressive to say the least. He clocked up 12 kilometres - more than anyone else in the team, with 35 passes he was the number one and had the ball 67 times, again more than anyone else. His long ball to Maxi Beiseter set up the opening goal in that game. Van Marwijk is known not to like long balls. Badelj told us with a grin after Monday training: "It was good long ball." The Croatian is receiving praise from all sides at the moment. He says: "Of course compliments are very nice, but they make me duty-bound to carry on playing the way I am doing at present. I feel good at the moment and am brimming with confidence. Wins like the one in Freiburg do you good. We are performing well at the back at the moment and the team helps me a lot."Badelj has made a few adjustments to his game and is now profiting from them. He makes a lot of passes with less risk now: "The team needs security, so sometimes it is better to play a simple ball." A strong running performance like the one he produced in Freiburg only comes about when a player takes paths others don't see. Badelj plugs holes and works well in front of the back four alongside Tolgay Arslan. Badelj told us modestly: "It is my job. I enjoy defensive duties.” He would of course like to add to his current goal tally of just one in 40 games for the Rothosen - an injury time penalty in the 3-1 home win over Schalke in November last year. Badelj knows: The most important thing is victory, if possible with a clean sheet."  Milan can't wait for Gladbach