Zlatan Ibrahimovic reiterated his desire to play an important role for Milan, gave his thoughts on the team’s run of poor form and gave some advice to Rafael Leao.

The 41-year-old Swedish veteran has not made a single appearance this season after undergoing a knee operation last May, forcing him to the sidelines for over eight months. Ibrahimovic recently returned to squad training and now is on the verge of returning to action for Milan, giving them a boost in the dressing room and on the pitch.

Speaking to Sport Mediaset, Ibrahimovic first discussed how he feels following his long period on the sidelines.

“I’m still god, I’m still number 1, now I’m back and the music changes. I have so much desire, I want to do so many things, what I lost in these seven or eight months. I lost time.

“Team in crisis? I’m not worried, these are normal moments within a season. Now we have to talk little and prove our worth on the pitch.”

He touched on the various criticisms levied against him.

“It’s normal, because if they don’t criticise you, you’re not at the top. They’ve been criticising me for 25 years because I’m number 1, I’m used to it.

“It’s like putting petrol on the fire and when you play with fire you get burnt. Do I still feel like God? Of course, nothing changes.”

The 41-year-old was asked if he could still help out the Rossoneri.

“I’m good, I’m very good! I’m back in the squad and I feel free, free on and off the pitch. It means I’m fine. In this period I did everything to help coach, staff and club from outside.

“I was patient because I had to come back to the top, the recovery is going according to plan.”

He gave some advice to star forward Leao, who has been left on the bench for the start of the last three consecutive matches.

“He had a fantastic year, he won the best player award in the league. Then the contract, other clubs looking for you, the World Cup and all that. But he has to stay focused and play football.

“Everything else works out, he just has to think about playing. He has become stronger than a year ago, only this year everyone knows who Leao is, last year they were less focused on him.

“Now instead, they know that he is the strongest of all and they are more focused on him.

Ibrahimovic spoke about the slow start by summer signing Charles De Ketelaere.

“In these months I wasn’t with the team every day, to know him well I have to be in the dressing room every day. He has great pressure also because of the price paid, everyone has expectations.

“He is a talent, he has great potential, he just has to find the right path to grow. Then he’s in another city, away from home and he has to get used to it.

“But when you arrive at Milan everyone helps you, they welcome you at your best, when you enter our locker room you feel at home. He just has to get unblocked, then once he gets unblocked everything starts.”

He commented on the criticism aimed at Milan coach Stefano Pioli.

“These are normal things, he is the coach of Milan and if things are not going well it is right to criticise the coach and the team.

“We are professionals and we expect criticism, it’s not all doom and gloom, criticism is part of the job.

“If you can’t take the pressure of criticism you shouldn’t do this job but criticism is part of our world and it’s useful because it keeps you at the top. When you are ugly you can become beautiful.”

He was asked if last year’s Scudetto success was an isolated incident.

“If we won it is because everyone did their part, everyone sacrificed themselves and took responsibility when it mattered.

“There was no one man show, we are not dependent on one or two phenomena, we won thanks to the collective of everyone. And also, thanks to the fans who gave a great boost to the squad.”

Finally, Ibrahimovic discussed if he’s still thinking of retirement.

“At 41 years old, I still have many pages to write also because quality does not disappear, the body changes, the physical preparation is different but quality does not go away, it remains. In my case it doesn’t change.

“To those who don’t believe in god, I will show it on the field, not in words. I want to show my talent every day with great desire, but not only individually. I want to transfer my credibility to others because if you can make a difference with the team, it’s different.

“It doesn’t all have to depend on me, I want to transfer everything I have inside to others: if my teammates are doing well, I’m doing well too. If we win as a collective, I get fired up. In this situation I don’t have to have, I just have to give.

“This is also my challenge, the goal is not my ego. I’m 41 years old, I play for Milan and I’m at the top. I want to transfer my eyes to others, I’m here for them, not for me. If it was for me, I would be on an island with a cigar. If I can be an example and a leader I’ll do it.”

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