RedBird Senior Advisor, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, spoke to Sky Sport Italia just minutes before the Milan - Liverpool match.
Here are his words:
On the Champions League debut:
"This is an important week. The first match today against Liverpool is a big game, coming at the right time for the team, after the last game which went well. We didn’t start as we wanted, but with patience, we’ll get there. It’s a clash between two great teams."
On his absence:
"When the lion leaves, the cats come closer. When the lion returns, the cats disappear. Everything that’s said around, the level is too low. I’m focusing on work; I was away for a few days for personal reasons, but I’m always present. We work, we pedal."
On his role, Ibrahimovic said:
"The role is simple; many people talk. I command, I’m the boss, and everything else works for me."
Ibrahimovic throws a jab at Zvonimir Boban, who was present in the Sky studios and had questioned Ibrahimovic's role in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport:
"Even Boban didn’t understand my role…"
"No one has understood it, to be honest", replied Boban.
Ibrahimovic’s then answered:
"I’ll explain now: I command, I’m the boss, and everyone works for me. We work in silence."
Did you talk to the "kittens" (referring to Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao)?
"The kittens are not the team; they are those outside the team."
But did you speak with them?
"I spoke with the team; they are doing well, they are pumped up, and they had a good game."
How does it feel to experience evenings like this and not be able to play?
"It’s different now; since I no longer play, I don’t have that adrenaline. Of course, I miss playing football because those were great moments, but it doesn’t make me want to return."
On the transfer market, Ibrahimovic said:
"The market was as we wanted. What we thought was missing, we got. The last one was Abraham to give extra reinforcement in attack. I’m sorry for Jovic."
Were you interested in Victor Osimhen?
"I stay silent."
