AC Milan's consultant, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, talks to the media in a press conference ahead of the match against Feyenoord tomorrow instead of Sergio Conceicao.
Here's what he had to say first:
"Before answering, it's a rare situation that I'm here. The coach was in Portugal, he's on his way. For tomorrow, our fans are important. They had the advantage of their fans in Rotterdam. Tomorrow will be a very different match with 80,000 Milanisti—not just those in the stadium but also those all over the world. They will push the team forward, and then those on the pitch must take this energy to do their best and be ready."
What explanation have you given yourself for Milan's ups and downs this season?
"As I said a week ago, the important thing is that the low moments are as high as possible. Being at the top every single day isn’t easy, but we are trying. If, over the long term, a team has its down moments at the highest possible level, that’s the team that will win. This is something we are working on—if you are always present and bring out a winning mentality, that’s what we are building in this group."
Ibrahimovic replied:
"I also communicate with the players every day, we try to find solutions, and we talk with the coach as well. But it shouldn't become repetitive—if you tell your wife every day that you love her, eventually, it loses meaning. You have to show it with actions, not just words."
Tomorrow is do-or-die. What do you expect from the team?
"The team must be focused, aggressive, and more clinical than in the first leg. They have to go in with the mindset that it's like a final. The important thing is to win, even though, of course, you want to play well. We're trailing by a goal, so we need to get a result to go through. Everyone must push their teammate and keep them focused. It's a collective effort that starts with a few individuals. Even those on the bench must push—everything is connected to the team as a whole. This is what makes a group and a team."
What do you expect from the new players who arrived in January? Is Santi on the right path to inheriting your legacy?
"We expect a lot from the new signings. They are already here—Walker, for example, is a player who is present. He is not someone who needs to grow; he needs to bring results. The same goes for Joao, who can grow. Gimenez can grow and become even stronger, just like Bondo and Sottil. The club expects a lot from the new signings. I have already told everyone to take their space—that's what the team needs: something new that shifts the balance a little, and that’s what they are doing. As Galliani used to say, the players should only think about football; we’ll take care of the rest. Gimenez is a killer; he is there in front of the goal. But he also has to run—if you don’t run, you don’t play under this coach. In the last match, he was in the right place at the right time. Then, the balls can come from anywhere, even from Mike. He has to stay there, focused, and put it in the net."
Why are you here today? Are you an assistant coach?
"I'm a backup. I'm a reserve—I step in when needed. Jokes aside, today I’m doing this because the coach isn’t here, he had a personal situation. I’m helping Milan."
In the past months, Milan was criticized for not having a club figure close to the coach under Fonseca. Now you seem more involved...
"If we go back to the summer, I was there at the press conferences with the new signings. We talked to Fonseca every day, not just me but the entire management. Today is a rare situation, just like after the match against Verona. It’s not that anything has changed. We are working, we all have our responsibilities. We are doing everything to help Milan be Milan."
Who is the most dangerous opponent in the race for fourth place?
"Every week, the results change. We are focused on ourselves. We take it one match at a time, as if every game were a final. In my opinion, those ahead of us are doing everything to stay there—it will be a battle among everyone until the very end. Everyone is dangerous, we have to beat them all."
Alex Jimenez is performing well. Real Madrid has a buy-back clause—are you already in talks with them to keep him?
"In the summer, I said he was Theo’s backup. Then, with patience, he arrived and now he is present. There is this clause for Real, and we have a good relationship with them. There are no discussions today. He is an important player for us right now. In the summer, he was with Milan Futuro, and if we talk about Milan Futuro today, we have Camarda, Jimenez, Bartesaghi, Torriani, Zeroli—who went to Monza—Cuenca, who went to Genoa, Stalmach, who went to Germany. Liberali made his debut. That was our strategy for Milan Futuro. We believe in Jimenez, and we want to give space to our talents. I regret that he’s not on the Champions League list—there were only three slots for changes—but next year, he will be on List B."
How is the ownership approaching this phase? Ibrahimovic commented:
"We talk to Gerry every day; he is very involved and driven. He wants success with Milan. He gives strength to everyone working here, he gives trust. We are working, doing everything we can to deliver results. He is very engaged, very on top of things. He gives you the space to be yourself and do your job, but in return, he wants results."
Ibrahimovic on how Theo Hernandez can get his spark back:
"These moments are special for players, it all comes down to a single game, like a final. If you have the opportunity to play these matches, you experience them in a different way. Everyone has their own approach to bringing out their best, and it depends on their character. I was focused; I didn’t need superstition. I had confidence. When I decided to do well, I stepped onto the pitch and performed. Theo is no longer a kid, he has grown and become one of the best in the world. When I arrived, he was still a youngster; now he isn’t. He knows what he has to do to bring out his best. He needs to find his 'trigger point' to reach a high level. It’s difficult, you always have to find those 'buttons' to fire yourself up. He’s the one stepping onto the pitch, and he has to find a way to perform better. For me, it was about being angry. That’s why I was angry, it wasn’t personal. It was about performing well."
When you played, were you asked to drop back and help? Can’t Leao be asked to stay in the last thirty meters?
"It's funny, everyone talks about Leao, everyone asks to tell him how to play. For us, he is among the strongest in the world—how do you explain to him how he should play? He knows, that’s why he is among the strongest in the world. You can guide him tactically, but you don’t explain to him how he should play. He is the one who shows you how he should play. There’s a reason he is at Milan and is one of the best in the world. I was asked something about Leao after the last game, but don’t worry, he knows what to do with the ball or not."
Will you be able to bring more Italian players into the squad in the summer?
"We looked for Italians, but we just weren’t able to close the deals. We signed Sottil. We want Italian players, but every situation is different. We try to bring the best players to Milan. When you are at Milan, no one has a guaranteed place—there’s always someone next to you who can take your spot. And if there isn’t, then we bring one from outside, whether Italian or foreign. We look for profiles that can fit at Milan. There are many great players, but playing in front of 80,000 people is different. I’ve seen many players who couldn’t perform at Milan, then went elsewhere and did well. When you are at Milan, you have to deliver results. That’s why Milan players become legends—because they bring results and trophies. We have our eyes on many Italians, but as you said, the Italian market is different. But we’re not afraid—if it’s the right move, we’ll do it."
