Zlatan Ibrahimovic won the Scudetton with Milan.
His coach now does not hold back in the tributes to the Swede.
– There is no one in the world who is smarter than him, says Stefano Pioli.
When Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved to MLS and LA Galaxy, most people thought that his career was coming to an end. But a year or so ago, he unexpectedly chose a new challenge, and he was clear that he was coming back to Milan to make the team a big club again.
Long-awaited surgery
And talk about succeeding in your mission. Milan were in the driver’s seat for much of the just-concluded season, and it became a long-awaited league title, the first since 2011, and the tributes to Zlatan Ibrahimovic have not ended after that. Not because the Swede was the one who scored the most goals or contributed the most on the pitch, but because of how he has handled the last six months.
Immediately after Milan’s league win, it was clear that the Swede has played completely without a front cruciate ligament for the past six months, and that he is now forced to undergo surgery.
– He could hardly wait to lie down under the knife. He has suffered in recent months, says his coach, Stefano Pioli.
Beautiful tribute
Ibrahimovic has barely been able to train due to the pain in his knee, but he has contributed with routine and his leadership skills. Stefano Pioli now does not hold back in his tributes.
– Zlatan has helped me grow, and he gave the whole team a mentality and belief that this can work. He is the football world’s smartest and most intelligent person, he says.
What will happen to Ibrahimovic in the future is not yet clear. But it is clear that he may need to rehab his knee for eight months before he can return to the pitch, and Stefano Pioli is clear on what he thinks.
– Ibrahimovic does the operation because he wants to continue playing, and we all feel that he has more to give.
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