Yesterday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck again. With two goals, the Swede led Milan to victory in the top match at Napoli. Since the arrival of Ibrahimovic, Milan seems like a different team. “We all know he’s the leader.”
In July, just after the unexpected 4-2 win against Juventus, Zlatan announced that Milan would have become champions if he had been there from the start of the season. That seemed like one of his typical jokes, but it doesn’t seem like it now.
Milan was in 12th place when he arrived from Los Angeles and the MLS in the middle of last season. March 8, 2020, just before the interruption of the corona pandemic, Milan lost for the last time in Serie A. It has already been unbeaten for 20 league games and is in the lead this season.
The Swede has a large share in the rise of Milan, which has not finished higher than 5th place since 2013. Since his comeback he has scored 20 times in the league.
The years do not seem to affect the 39-year-old Swede. “I feel as fit as an enthusiastic child,” says Ibrahimovic. “I want to play as much as possible.”
Whether the Serie A has become easier? Maybe I just got better.
This season he is already 10 in 6 duels, he is a top scorer with 2 goals more than Cristiano Ronaldo. He scores more often than in his first period in Serie A at Juventus, Inter or Milan.
In every league match in which he played he already hit and against Bologna, Inter, Roma and Napoli he scored 2 goals. “Whether Serie A has become easier? Maybe I just got better. “
The only thing that does not work well are the penalties, he already missed 3. “I am angry with myself for that,” said the Swede. “Maybe it’s better to leave the next penalty to Franck Kessié.”
“No stress, Ibra is there. I’ll fix it”
Milan is of course more than Ibrahimovic. With Donnarumma, a top goalkeeper is between the posts, the defense looks more secure thanks to Simon Kjaer. Just like Ibrahimovic, the Dane came in the previous winter mercato.
In midfield, small Bennacer and powerful Kessié form a good tandem and Calhanoglu’s kicking technique finally delivers assists and goals. And Alexis Saelemaekers provides the Belgian touch with his speed and strength.
But Ibrahimovic’s mental influence on the young Milan squad cannot be underestimated. “You always need a goal. We don’t play football just because it’s fun. Sure it is fun, but there has to be something at stake. That is my way of working. ” (read on below the video)
And when stress hits the youth of Milan, Zlatan is around to help. “No stress, Ibra is here. I will solve it ”, I say to the boys.”
“We all know that Zlatan is the leader of the group,” said Daniele Bonera, who came in against Napoli for coach Stefano Pioli. It became infected with corona. “We cannot underestimate its importance to the group.”
“Ibra has something special,” admits club legend Paolo Maldini, technical director at Milan. The Italian club has been negotiating for a while to extend Ibrahimovic’s one-year contract.
“Title? It’s too early to get carried away”
Milan’s last title dates back to 2011, when Ibrahimovic also wore the red and black shirt. But it is not yet possible to talk about a new title at Milan.
“After 8 match days, it is too early to get carried away,” said interim coach Bonera after the victory in Naples. “There are teams that have invested in becoming champions and that is not the case for us. We want to grow every day and finish as high as possible. ”
In any case, Milan will need its great leader Ibrahimovic. And so we have to wait and see whether the thigh injury with which he had to leave in Naples, is not too bad.
