Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains how Milan got the best out of Christian Pulisic after Chelsea struggles, the difficulty of becoming a director and why he ‘eats pressure for breakfast.’
The former Sweden international hung up his boots in July 2023 after a three-year return to the Rossoneri, having already worn their jersey from 2010 to 2012.
He took some months off and made another comeback to San Siro, this time in the guise of a director and consultant to owner Gerry Cardinale.
“I’m excited. I’m enjoying a lot of responsibility, a lot of pressure. We eat pressure for breakfast,” he smiled on ESPN First Take.
“The hardest thing is I know these guys, I used to play with them, now I am making decisions for these players and it’s not easy to go from teammates to working above them, making what might be hard decisions.
“So far it’s good, I’ve been friendly so far…”
Milan are under new coach Paulo Fonseca and impressed in the pre-season tour of the USA, beating Manchester City 3-2 and Real Madrid 1-0.
“It takes time to get his identity into the team, so we need patience, but can already see the team is improving, starting to understand his ideas.”
USMNT star Pulisic had a sensational debut season in Serie A, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists in 36 games, a vast difference from the player who struggled at Chelsea.
“I think he had his best season with us. I expect him to do even more this season, as a leader also, because the young team needs these leaders to show the path for the team,” noted Ibrahimovic.
“We are there to help and support him, just make him focus on football and that’s all.”
Zlatan’s son, Maximilian Ibrahimovic, is now going to play for the Milan Futuro youth team and his father admits there is added pressure carrying that surname, but he cannot be ‘too protective’ either.
instead of wasting money on this guy the could spend the money on more italian youth only in italy the hire somebody whos none italian
@enrico it shows how their owners have no freakin’ idea how to run a club LOL. It’s like asking a 5 yo kid to drive a Ferrari. HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT.