As Milan prepared to face Feyenoord in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, senior advisor to RedBird, shared his thoughts on the team’s strategy and recent developments.
Addressing the decision to field four attackers, Ibrahimovic emphasized the collective responsibility of the team. “Today it’s like this, but everyone attacks and everyone defends. All players have responsibilities,” he explained. He clarified that the final decisions always rest with manager Conceicao, who chose this approach for the match.
Ibrahimovic acknowledged that the club was not satisfied with their previous situation, which led to several changes during the transfer window. “We made some changes. Now we are confident, and this team must carry Milan forward,” he stated, expressing optimism about the squad’s current composition.
The senior advisor highlighted the positive influence of the new arrivals. “Five new players have all brought something different, each with unique characteristics,” Ibrahimovic noted. He emphasized the injection of “new blood” and “new energy” into the team, stressing the need for positivity, consistency, confidence, and rhythm to secure victory in this two-legged tie.
Addressing questions about Rafael Leao’s role, Ibrahimovic was quick to dispel any notions of reduced responsibility. “Everyone has their own responsibility. Leao is often discussed because of his high level – he’s one of the best in the world,” he asserted. Ibrahimovic clarified that Joao Felix’s presence doesn’t diminish Leao’s importance, describing them as “different players with different roles.”
He concluded by emphasizing the shared responsibility among all team members. “It doesn’t depend only on those two; there are many who have this responsibility to bring results,” Ibrahimovic stated, underlining the collective effort required for the team’s success.
