Ibrahimovic once again backs AC Milan’s impossible Serie A title challenge
MILAN, ITALY: Zlatan Ibrahimovic could once again be instrumental in AC Milan’s unlikely title challenge.
AC Milan host defending champions Napoli this weekend, but they are eight points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand. A surprising turnaround in form sees AC Milan looming large behind the top two teams, although they will have to accept Inter’s unexpected collapse to get the Rossoneri back into title contention.
AC Milan’s hopes of winning the title have all but disappeared after a disastrous October and November, when they fell from first to third in Serie A with just two wins in two months, and were also eliminated from the Champions League. It looked like.
But then came Ibra.
The talismanic Swede, who officially retired at the end of last season, returned to Milan in an advisory role on December 11 and since then the Rossoneri have won six of their eight league games and drawn the other two.
His former teammates are happy to have him back.
“He came to help us, especially with his mental approach and motivation,” veteran forward Olivier Giroud said. “He talks to me before games, during games, and at halftime, and he pushes me to be even more of a leader.”
The other forward was even more enthusiastic.
“With him we have another guy,” said Rafael Leán.
Ibrahimovic helped Milan win their first title in 11 years in 2022, and although injury limited him to just four games last season, he was always on the sidelines offering encouragement and advice.
Young players were once keen to talk about how much they learned from him, and his influence can be seen in the sudden outburst of Milan forward Luka Jovic.
The Serbian international did not score for the Rossoneri until December. He has scored four goals in his last five games, including the late winner against Frosinone last weekend, two minutes after coming off the bench.
Ibrahimovic helped instill much-needed confidence in Jovic and other Milan players.
“We need to keep moving forward. We are thinking about the next game,” Jovic said. “We hope that we can continue to play as we have been. Napoli are a very good opponent and it will be a difficult game, but we are confident. We believe in ourselves .”
Milan have their sights set on second place Juventus, who are four points behind.
Juventus lost 1-0 to Inter last weekend. Inter face a tricky trip to Roma on Saturday, the day before Milan vs. Napoli. Juventus host Udinese on Monday.
Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani said: “I’ve said it many times before, but Ibra has great added value.” “He was a champion on the field, he was a champion off the field and always will be.
“As a Milan fan, as Milan, as a club and as a manager, we are lucky to have him with us.”