Photo: Alessandro Garofalo/AP/TT, Luca Bruno/AP/TT
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is now an advisor to the management of AC Milan.
After a tentative start to the season, the Swede has now received a lot of criticism from his own fans who think he is absent and frivolous.
– I played for 25 years with criticism. I keep doing what I’m doing and it just gives me more fuel, he told DAZN according to Football Italia.
At the beginning of the year got Zlatan Ibrahimovic42, a leading role in Milan’s sporting management – but it has been quite unclear until now what exactly he does. When the club presented its new coach at the beginning of the summer Paolo Fonseca so the Swede took the opportunity to make his first media appearance for the club in his role as an advisor.
Zlatan actually does that at work
– I understand that many people have questions. My role is simple. I work close to Redbird, I am responsible for Milan. It is not a “one man show”, everyone is important. Even if it’s quiet, we’re working, we’re not a podcast, we’re not a talk show, he said in June at a press conference.
– I have only been in my new role for six months but have already started getting gray hairs, we work hard, he continued.
Even when he visited Viaplay and talked to the reporter on the air Jennifer Kücükaslan before Milan’s opening match in the Champions League, he was asked about his service in the Italian big club.
– Everyone is talking about the role. I am the boss and the rest work for me, he said then.
During his time as an advisor to the board management, Zlatan has received a lot of criticism. The club is sportingly not where it should be. So far, there have been just two wins in the opening five league games and Milan are outside the European places.
Got into a fight
Before the victory in the derby against Inter (2-1) on Sunday, there was a lot of pressure on the team. It was reported that coach Fonseca was already at risk of leaving if he lost and Zlatan also received a lot of negative comments against him. Above all, many supporters wonder what he actually does, concretely, at the club. He has also been questioned when he was missing during the season opener when he chose to go on holiday instead.
READ MORE: Here, Armand Duplantis and Zlatan Ibrahimovic meet in Milan – new photos of the Swedish superstars
Zlatan has also fallen out with the Milan icon Zvonimir Boban on Italian television – many are bothered by the fact that the mighty Swede often ends up in conflicts and in bad weather after doing media. Now he comes forward himself and responds to the criticism. At the same time, he makes it clear that he will be more sparing with content on social media going forward.
– I can’t make jokes, because not everyone understands them. I work. It’s a tough job and I like it. I am developing. The most important thing is the team, not me. We will get over this, but personally it is nothing that bothers me, he told DAZN according to the site Football Italia.
READ MORE: The Manchester United icons can’t believe their eyes when they see the new picture of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – immediately start laughing
– Criticism is part of the job. The most important is Milan. I played for 25 years with criticism. I keep doing what I’m doing and it just gives me more fuel, he continues.
There is a lot of pressure in a big club like Milan and both the players, the coaches and the leaders, including Zlatan, have it hot on their ears. It is natural. Just keep fighting.
Which club do you most associate Zlatan with? Feel free to write a comment on Facebook.
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