Ibrahimovic, the speech to Milan after the victory over Inter in the Super Cup

“This is Milan, we play for these trophies. Whoever wants to enter the history of Milan must win these cups.” Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the locker room, elegant in a suit and tie, and speaks to the team. He has the Super Cup nearby and the players sitting around him. Furthermore, the players and staff who came to Riyadh for the Super Cup: the doctors, the physiotherapists, the warehouse workers. Ibra has just won the first trophy of his career as a manager and the first thought of the champions’ speech is for Conceiçao: “We have achieved one of our objectives. What we were looking for (with the change of coach) was a reaction, and this is our reaction,” he says, pointing to the cup. The players, around him, in silence. Here is the message: in the Fonseca-Conceiçao change, Milan was looking for a shock, a tougher coach but at the same time more empathetic with the players. He seems to have found it.

champions comeback

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So, congratulations to Sergio: “I want to congratulate the coach and the staff – says Ibra -. In just a few days you have done a great job. And thank goodness the coach had a fever, otherwise he would have smashed more than one television.” Then to the team: “Congratulations to the players, you won it with sweat, sacrifices and the desire to win. When a team has this desire to win, it is difficult to beat them. When the championship started, I told you that everything depends on us, it’s inside the head. Today you proved it. Now let’s go back and bring this mentality. Let’s recover points to get to where we need to be.” Here are five months condensed. From January to May, Milan will have to be on track, concentrated, cynical. Enough of the ups and downs, experienced with Fonseca but also with Pioli. No more distractions, no more players on the pitch without application. Conceiçao seems like the right person to ban them. Milan certainly scares everyone much more now. They have 8 points to make up on Lazio, who are fourth but have played two more games. In the middle there are Fiorentina and Juve at +5 (both with one game more), Bologna which is at +1. It is not difficult to understand that a comeback is more than possible.

the old “forza milan”

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Ibra finishes the round of compliments with the staff and the applause extends to all the people in the delegation in Riyadh: “You are not famous and you don’t go on the pitch, but it’s also thanks to you, you are as important as those who go on the pitch.” And to follow, the best phrase: “This is Milan, we play for these trophies, whoever wants to enter Milan’s history must win these cups”. Ibra closes in a vaguely Berlusconian way: “On three, Forza Milan”. The team responds together. Like on the pitch.