During his post-match press conference following Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona on Sunday evening, coach Stefano Pioli reserved a special word of praise for Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the towering Swede announced his retirement from professional football.
Ibrahimovic was given an emotional send-off by the Rossoneri crowd at San Siro after the final whistle, with many supporters and teammates breaking down in tears as he gave a speech confirming that he won’t be lacing up his boots for the 2023-24 season.
Addressing the media after the season drew to a close on Sunday night, Pioli admitted it wasn’t alway easy coaching a man of his status, but also expressed his sadness at the fact that he will no longer be able to coach the ‘champion’ Ibrahimovic.
“He’s a great footballer, a very intelligent person,” Pioli told the media gathered in the pressroom at the Giuseppe Meazza, adding: “He’s a champion, I’m very sad because I won’t be able to coach him anymore. Zlatan is a winner, a fighter and it’s not easy for him.
“Conversations were constant and they weren’t always easy, but I knew I was dealing with a person of a high level, who always says what he feels and what’s on his mind and who speaks for the good of the team. Sometimes I spoke little and listened a lot, but Zlatan has a great personality.
“We were all moved. He hadn’t fully announced his plans to us, he’s a great champion and he’s demonstrated it at every stage of his career. Until yesterday, he was the first to arrive at Milanello and the last to leave and that makes a huge difference.
“Zlatan is so good that he makes sure everyone is ready to play as a team even when he is not there, great credit must be given to him. They are no longer the kids he had found in 2020, but mature guys, with both negative and positive experiences under their belts. It won’t be easy to start again without him.”
When asked about his plans for the summer, Pioli insisted that rest was of the utmost priority, before confirming that he does intend to speak to directors Ricky Massara and Paolo Maldini in the near future.
“We have a very solid relationship with the club and the managers have been good at making it like that,” he said. “Of course if there is the possibility, and if we want to be competitive in the two competitions we will also improve the squad a little.”
Pioli also gave a positive response when asked whether he thought Rafael Leao is prepared to be the star in Milan’s line-up after agreeing to a long-term contract extension in the days building up to the Verona game.
He responded: “He has incredible qualities, he has matured a lot in these three years and has everything to be a star. The fact that he has renewed means a lot to us.”