Stefano Pioli, AC Milan's coach, said these words in a press conference after AC Milan's victory in the latest match in the season, which was at the San Siro against Hellas Verona (3-1). First, he spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic's retirement:
"He's a champion, and I'm very sad because I won't be able to coach him anymore. He's a great footballer, a very intelligent person. Zlatan will explain the reason for his decision. It's a shame, it wasn't easy."
Can you tell us an anecdote about him?
"Our interactions were constant, and they weren't always easy, but I knew I was dealing with a high-level person who always speaks his mind and expresses what he feels, always for the good of the team. Sometimes I spoke very little and listened a lot, and sometimes we even had discussions... Zlatan has a strong personality, and there have been significant situations, but it has been a wonderful experience for me."
How was his farewell?
"We were all moved. He hadn't fully announced his intentions to us. He's a tremendous champion, and he has proven it throughout his career. Until yesterday, he was the first to arrive at Milanello and the last to leave. And that makes a difference."
Would you like to see him in another role?
"We spoke a while ago, and he didn't see himself as a coach... I don't know what Zlatan will do, but whatever he does, he'll do it well. He has too many abilities."
Do you have to start from scratch without Ibra?
"Zlatan is so good that he makes everyone ready to be a team even without him. He deserves great credit for that. We're no longer the young players he found in 2020, but mature individuals with both positive and negative experiences... It won't be easy to start again without him."
