Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke to DAZN before the Empoli-Milan match. Here are his statements:
This is the kind of match you can't afford to get wrong...
"Today, the result is very important, as it is in every match. We have to win and climb up the standings—it's fundamental."
How do you convince a coach when you have a lot of talent but also need to contribute defensively? When you played, you didn’t focus much on defending…
"It depends on the type of coach you have. If you don’t track back, he puts you on the bench. That’s how modern football works now. There are different personalities among players, and you have to get the best out of them. It’s not about individual talent but the team as a whole. If the coach asks for something, you have to follow him. The best attack is the best defense. It’s part of the game—both defending and attacking."
Do you really consider Gimenez similar to Ibrahimovic? What impressed you the most?
"We believe in him a lot, which is why we made a big investment in him. We need to help him develop and make sure he feels good. He’s strong in the box and good at scoring goals. He also helps with assists, not just scoring. He has room for growth. The important thing is that he feels good—coming to Italy as a foreigner is not easy. But it’s our responsibility to make him feel comfortable and ensure he focuses only on football."
