AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has credited Zlatan Ibrahimovic with influencing Milan’s scudetto-winning season
Stefano Pioli talked about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s massive impact on Milan’s squad on their way to win the scudetto last season.
Pioli claims training with Zlatan is ‘different’
Ibrahimovic made his long-awaited return to football, after being sidelined for nine months, against Atalanta in Milan’s 2-0 victory at San Siro. The Swede underwent an anterior cruciate ligament surgery, which he admitted he postponed in order to help Milan win the Serie A.
Asked what kind of involvement Ibrahimovic may have when Milan visit Fiorentina on Saturday, Pioli said: “Not full playing time, but he will soon be able to start.
“Zlatan is Zlatan, it’s his strength, his return is important. In training with him or without him, there’s definitely a difference.”
Zlatan is Zlatan, it’s his strength, his return is important“
Milan will be having both Zlatan and Mike Maignan in their side going forward, as both stars make a return in a crucial part of the season.
“There’s more to it [than the returns of Ibrahimovic and Maignan]” Pioli said. “There’s the work and the quality of the players. Then we’re talking about players who raise the level of the team.
“It’s time to give continuity. We are the ones who can influence our performances to achieve positive results, we must play with great attention and great determination.
“With more players we are stronger, tomorrow [Ismael] Bennacer, [Davide] Calabria and [Alessandro] Florenzi will return.”
