Ibrahimovic discusses Jimenez’s future, top four chances, being Milan’s ‘reserve’ and San Siro ‘final’ | OneFootball

This afternoon, Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke to the media ahead of AC Milan’s Champions League second-leg fixture against Feyenoord.

Milan’s season arguably rests on the next game, a win will bring a huge financial opportunity to the club, which they will look to extend further. In addition to this, it offers the Rossoneri a chance at ‘destiny’.

It has been a difficult season so far, but the Champions League now serves as a chance to raise motivation across the board and for things to get better, especially with a top-four place looking more plausible after the weekend’s results.

A goal down in the tie, the Diavolo must win by two goals or more to guarantee a place in the final 16, failing to do so will see the game go to extra time, at the very best, anything else will see Milan out.

With Sergio Conceicao in Portugal for the funeral of the former Porto president, Ibrahimovic took charge of the press conference this afternoon.

Speaking alongside Fikayo Tomori, Ibra spoke about the game and other topics and Milan News have relayed his comments.

Will San Siro be important tomorrow?

“Before I answer, it’s a rare situation that I’m here. The coach was in Portugal, he’s coming. For tomorrow our fans are important. They had the advantage of their fans in Rotterdam.

“Tomorrow, it will be a very different game with 80 thousand Milan fans, not only those in the stadium but also those all over the world. They will push the team, then those who go on the pitch must take this charge to do as much as possible and be ready.”

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What explanation have you given yourself for these ups and downs of Milan 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 day is not easy, but we are trying. If in the long run, a team has the highest possible low moments, it is the one that will win.

“It is something we are working on, if you are always present and bring out the winning mentality: that is what we are creating in this group. Then I communicate every day with the players, we try to find solutions, we talk to the coach too.

“But it must not be a repetitive thing, if you tell your wife every day that you love her then it loses its meaning. You have to show it with facts, not just with words.”

Tomorrow is a do-or-die. What do you expect from the team?

“The team tomorrow must be focused, aggressive and more concrete than in the first leg. They must enter with the mentality that it is like a final. The important thing is to win, even if it is obvious that you want to play well.

“We are one goal down, we must get a result to advance. Everyone must push their teammate and make them focused. It is a collective thing that starts with some individuality. Even those on the bench must push, it is all connected to the collective.

“This is what makes a group and a team.”

What emotions do you feel as a manager?

“For me personally, it is important, yes. I am a winner, I want to bring results. I don’t try to do things that don’t go down in history, I try to make a difference to write history. And Milan is a club that writes history.

“Anyone who works at Milan is here to do the same thing. If you win you bring trophies, this is Milan. If you look at Milan’s history in the Champions League then they have written the history of the competition. We want to continue doing this.

“From the outside, we push those who go on the pitch. We are Milan and we must continue to bring results and write history. Tomorrow is like a final.”

What do you expect from the new players who arrived in January? Is Santi on the right path to follow your legacy?

“We expect a lot from the new signings. They are already here, Walker for example is a player who is here. He is not someone who needs to grow, he needs to bring results. Just like Joao, who can grow. Gimenez can grow and become even stronger, like Bondo and Sottil.

Photo by AC Milan

“The club expects a lot from the new signings. I have already told everyone to take their space, this is what the team needs: something new that shifts the balance a bit and that is what they are doing. As Galliani said, the players only need to think about football, we will take care of the rest.

“Gimenez is a killer, he is there in front of the goal. But he also has to run, with the coach if you don’t run you don’t play. In the last match, he was in the right place at the right time. Then the balls can come from everywhere, even from Mike. He has to stay there, concentrate and put it in.”

Why are you here today? Are you an assistant coach?

“I’m a backup. I’m a reserve, I come 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 with Fonseca, Milan was criticized for not having a corporate figure close to the coach. Now you are more involved…

“If we go to the conferences with the new signings in the summer I would be there. We spoke with Fonseca every day, not just with me but with all the management. Today it is a rare situation, as it was after the match with Verona.

“It’s not that anything has changed. We are working, we all have our responsibilities. We are doing everything we can to help Milan be Milan.”

Who is the most dangerous opponent in the race for fourth place?

“The results change every week. We are focused on ourselves. We think about one game at a time, as if they were all finals. In my opinion, those ahead of us are doing everything they can to be there, it will be a battle between everyone, until the end. Everyone is dangerous, we have to beat everyone.”

Alex Jimenez is doing well. Real Madrid have a buy-back clause, are you already talking to them to keep him?

“In the summer I said he was Theo’s deputy. Then with patience, he arrived and now he is here. There is this clause for Real, we have a good relationship with them. There are no discussions today. He is an important player for us today.

“In the summer he was at 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. This was our strategy for Milan Futuro.

“We believe in Jimenez, we want to give space to our talents. I’m sorry he is not in the Champions League list, there were only three changes, but from next year he will be in List B.”

How does the owner approach this appointment?

“We talk to Gerry every day, he is very involved and charged. He wants success with Milan. He gives strength to everyone who works here, he gives confidence. We are working, we are doing as much as possible to bring these results.

“He is very involved, very on the ball. He gives you space to be yourself and do your job, but in exchange he wants results.”

How do you bring the spark back to Theo Hernandez?

“These moments are special for footballers, it’s all about a match, like a final. If you have the opportunity to play these matches you enjoy it in a different way. Everyone has their own approach to bring out the best. Then it depends on character. I was focused, I didn’t need superstition. I had confidence.

“When I decided to do well I went in and did well. Theo is no longer a kid, now he’s grown up and become one of the best in the world. When I arrived he was a kid, now he’s not. He knows what he has to do to bring out the best.

“He has to find the “trigger point” to reach a high level. It’s difficult, you always have to find these “buttons” to get yourself going. He’s the player who comes on the pitch and has to find a way to do better. Mine was to be angry.

“That’s why I was angry, it wasn’t personal. It was to do well.”

When you played, were they asking you to go back and help? Can’t Leao be asked to stay in the last thirty meters?

“It’s great, everyone talks about Leao, everyone asks to tell him how to play. For us he is one of the best in the world: how do you explain to him how he has to play? He knows it, that’s why he is one of the best in the world. Then you can direct him tactically, but you don’t explain to him how he has to play.

“He is the one who explains to you how he has to play. That’s the reason why he is at Milan and he is one of the best in the world. They asked me something about Leao in the last match, 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 team this summer?

“We looked for Italians, but we couldn’t close. We took Sottil. We want Italian players, but every situation is different. We try to bring the best players to Milan.

“When you’re at Milan, no one is guaranteed a place, there’s always someone next to you who can take your place. And if there isn’t one, then we bring someone from outside, Italian or foreign.

“We look for profiles that can be at Milan. There are many great players, but when you play in front of 80,000 people it’s different. I’ve seen many players who haven’t been able to play at Milan, then they went to other clubs and did well.

“When you’re at Milan you have to bring results. This is why Milan players become legends: because they bring results and trophies. We have eyes on many Italians, but as you say the Italian market is different. But we’re not afraid, if it’s right we’ll do it.”